Interobserver Agreement of visual and semi-quantitative methods in 99mTc-Methoxy-Isobuty-Isonitrile (MIBI) imaging for risk stratification of hypofunctional thyroid nodules.

Abstract

Aim: 99mTc-Methoxy-Isobuty-Isonitrile (MIBI) imaging is used for risk stratifications of hypofunctioning thyroid nodules (TNs). MIBI uptake in the nodular tissue is compared to the uptake in the paranodular thyroid tissue. MIBI imaging may be interpreted visually and/or semi-quantitatively. This study aimed to evaluate the interobserver agreement (IOA) of different methods of interpreting MIBI imaging (visual and semi-quantitative approaches).

Methods: MIBI imaging data from 2018 to 2020 were collected. Four readers with varying work experience prospectively evaluated MIBI images (planar, SPECT/CT) visually and semi-quantitatively (Wash-Out Index (WOI)). After identifying the nodules on 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigram, the readers evaluated MIBI imaging data by using early, late, early-to-late, and SPECT late acquisitions. Region of interests (ROIs) were defined for semi-quantitative analysis and average counts were calculated using the WOI formula (by Campenni et al.) 1 2. IOA was assessed using Fleiss Kappa, Pearson correlation and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

Results: 23 patients with hypofunctioning nodules were included. Kappa analysis revealed an IOA of 0.57 for all readers for early imaging (moderate agreement); perfect matches were found in 57%. For late imaging, the IOA was 0.48 (moderate) for all, with perfect matches in 48%. The visual pattern (early-to-late) exhibited an IOA of 0.45 for all, with perfect matches in 57%. SPECT/CT evaluation showed an overall IOA of 0.44, with perfect matches in 48%. The semi-quantitative approach WOI yielded an overall result of 0.64 (good agreement) and perfect matches in 91%.

Conclusion: The IOA for WOI was higher than for visual methods. The WOI is independent of the reader's experience level. Visual analysis requires a certain level of experience from the reader.