Inter-rater reliability between two examiners with different professional          roles in the evaluation of fat infiltration in the lumbar paraspinal muscles using magnetic          resonance imaging

Background The cross-sectional area (CSA) records make an essential measurement for determining the mechanical properties of tendons, such as stress and strength. However, there is no consensus regarding the best method to record the CSA from different tendons. Purpose To determine intra- and inter-rater reliability for CSA measures from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the following tendons: tibialis anterior; tibialis posterior; fibularis longus and brevis; and Achilles. Material and Methods We designed an observational study with repeated measures taken from a convenience sample of 20 participants diagnosed with acute or chronic ankle sprain. Two independent raters took three separate records from the CSA of ankle tendon images of each MRI slice. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% limits of agreement (LoA) defined the quality (associations) and magnitude (differences), respectively, of intra- and inter-rater reliability on the measures plotted by the Bland–Altman method. Results Data showed very high intra- and inter-rater correlations for measures taken from all tendons analyzed (ICC 0.952–0.999). It also revealed an excellent agreement between raters (0.12%–2.3%), with bias no higher than 2 mm2 and LoA in the range of 4.4–7.9 mm2. The differences between repeated measures recorded from the thinnest tendons (fibularis longus and brevis) revealed the lowest bias and narrowest 95% LoA. Conclusion Reliability for the CSA of ankle tendons measured from MRI taken by independent rates was very high, with the smallest differences between raters observed when the thinnest tendon was analyzed.

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The relation between local and distal muscle fat infiltration in chronic whiplash using magnetic resonance imaging

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0226037 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. e0226037

Author(s):

Anette Karlsson ◽

Anneli Peolsson ◽

James Elliott ◽

Thobias Romu ◽

Helena Ljunggren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Fat Infiltration ◽

Distal Muscle ◽

Muscle Fat Infiltration ◽

Chronic Whiplash

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Extensibility of the supraspinatus muscle can be predicted by combining shear wave elastography and magnetic resonance imaging-measured quantitative metrics of stiffness and volumetric fat infiltration: A cadaveric study

Clinical Biomechanics ◽

10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2018.07.001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 57 ◽

pp. 144-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Hugo Giambini ◽

Taku Hatta ◽

Asghar Rezaei ◽

Kai-Nan An

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Shear Wave ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Cadaveric Study ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Fat Infiltration ◽

Supraspinatus Muscle ◽

Quantitative Metrics

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Fat Infiltration on Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Sacroiliac Joints Has Limited Diagnostic Utility in Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.130568 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 75-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Ulrich Weber ◽

Susanne J. Pedersen ◽

Veronika Zubler ◽

Kaspar Rufibach ◽

Stanley M. Chan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Back Pain ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Axial Spondyloarthritis ◽

Morphological Features ◽

Diagnostic Utility ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Fat Infiltration ◽

Per Se ◽

Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

Objective.To explore whether morphological features of fat infiltration (FI) on sacroiliac joint (SIJ) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contribute to diagnostic utility in 2 inception cohorts of patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).Methods.Four blinded readers assessed SIJ MRI in 2 cohorts (A/B) of 157 consecutive patients with back pain who were ≤ 50 years old, and in 20 healthy controls. Patients were classified according to clinical examination and pelvic radiography as having nr-axSpA (n = 51), ankylosing spondylitis (n = 34), or nonspecific back pain (n = 72). Readers recorded FI, bone marrow edema (BME), and erosion, predefined morphological features of FI (distinct border, homogeneity, subchondral location), and anatomical distribution of SIJ FI. The proportion of SIJ quadrants affected by FI and frequencies of various SIJ FI features were analyzed descriptively. We calculated positive/negative likelihood ratios (LR) to estimate the diagnostic utility of various features of FI, with and without associated BME, and erosion.Results.Of the patients with nr-axSpA in cohorts A/B, 45.0%/48.4% had FI in ≥ 2 SIJ quadrants. Of those, 25.0%/22.6% and 20.0%/25.8% showed FI with distinct border or homogeneous pattern, respectively, and 50% to 100% of those patients displayed concomitant BME or erosion. FI per se in ≥ 2 SIJ quadrants had no diagnostic utility (LR+ 1.62/1.91). FI with distinct border (LR+ 8.29/2.13) or homogeneity (LR+ 6.24/3.78) demonstrated small to moderate diagnostic utility.Conclusion.SIJ FI per se was not of clinical utility in recognition of nr-axSpA. Distinct border or homogeneity of FI on SIJ MRI showed small to moderate diagnostic utility in nr-axSpA, but were strongly associated with concomitant BME or erosion, highlighting the contextual interpretation of SIJ MRI.

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