BACKGROUND A classification of lumbosacral spondylolisthesis has been proposed recently. This classification describes eight distinct types of spondylolisthesis based on the slip grade, the degree of dysplasia, and the sagittal sacro-pelvic balance. The objectives of this study are to assess the reliability of this classification and to propose a new and refined classification. METHODS Standi...

AIMS Recent studies report increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using transcranial sonography (TCS). However, the main limitation to TCS is its dependence on the sonographer's experience. Experimental software for quantitative evaluation of the echogenic SN area was thus developed by us. The aim of this study was to test the reliability o...

INTRODUCTION There is limited evidence regarding intra-observer and inter-observer variations in echocardiographic measurements of diastolic function. This study aimed to assess this reproducibly within a population-based cohort study. METHODS Sixty subjects in sinus rhythm were randomly selected among 4th visit participants of the STANISLAS Cohort (Lorraine region, France). This 4th examinat...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the reproducibility of the calculation of breast density with DM-Scan software, which is based on the semiautomatic segmentation of fibroglandular tissue, and to compare it with the reproducibility of estimation by visual inspection. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 655 direct digital mammograms acquired using craniocaudal projections. Three experienced radiologis...

A critical step in radiotherapy treatment planning process is to accurately locate the tumor and determine its extent. Variability in gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation is a major source of systematic error in conformal radiotherapy. CT scan is the principle source of imaging data used for defining GTV for planning conformal therapy. CT is widely available less costly and compatible with radi...

AIMS To test the hypothesis that inter-observer variability accounts for the wide variation in reported prevalences of fibrin strands on prosthetic heart valves and to develop criteria for their identification and reporting. METHODS AND RESULTS A videotape with 30 sequences of prosthetic heart valves imaged by transoesophageal echocardiography and showing abnormalities such as strands, microb...

AIM The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of a panel of orthodontists for accepting new patient referrals based on clinical photographs. SAMPLE Eight orthodontists from Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Chester, and Derbyshire observed clinical photographs of 40 consecutive new patients attending the orthodontic department, Hope Hospital, Salford. METHOD They recorded whether o...

AIM The aim of this preliminary study was to test the reliability of radiographic evaluation of features of endodontic interest using a newly devised data collection system. METHODOLOGY Twelve endodontic MSc postgraduate students and one specialist endodontist examined sample radiographs derived from a random selection of 42 patients seen previously on an Endodontic New Patient Clinic (EDI). ...