Comparing the interpretation of emergency department computed tomography between emergency physicians and attending radiologists: A multicenter study

Abstract

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) interpretation in the emergency department is one of the vital issues that should be carried out rapidly and accurately. The objective of this study was to examine the interpretation accuracy of emergency physicians (EPs) regarding CT scans at the emergency department for traumatic and nontraumatic purposes.

Materials and Methods: The study that was carried out as a prospective, observational study was completed at four centers during 1 year.

Results: Accuracy ratios of CT interpretations of EP regarding cranial injuries, thoracic injuries and vertebral spine injuries are above 95% in addition to the fact that the concordance’s with the final result are perfect, the concordance with the final results of the CT interpretations of EP for abdominal injuries was moderate (<0.75). Accuracy ratios of the CT interpretations of EP for nontrauma patients were above 90% for brain hemorrhage and chest injuries and that the concordance with the final results was perfect (≥0.75). The CT interpretation accuracy rates of EP for spontaneous pneumothorax and aortic aneurysm/aortic dissection cases were 100%. CT interpretation rate of EP for pulmonary embolism was 89.4%, whereas the level of concordance with the final results was moderate (<0.75). Whereas the CT interpretation accuracy rates of EP for nontraumatic abdominal injuries varied between 83.3% and 93.1%, their levels of concordance with the final results were moderate (<0.75).

Conclusions: The CT interpretations for abdominal traumatic patients in addition to pulmonary embolism and acute nontraumatic abdominal injuries should be carried out more carefully.

Keywords: Attending radiologists, computed tomography interpretation, emergency physicians, nontrauma emergencies, trauma emergencies