Reliability of brain CT evaluation by stroke neurologists in telemedicine

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Volker Puetz - , Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Ulf Bodechtel - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Johannes C. Gerber - , Institute and Polyclinic of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Imanuel Dzialowski - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Alexander Kunz - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Martin Wolz - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of Neurology, Elblandklinikum Meißen-Radebeul (Author)
  • Hjoerdis Hentschel - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of Neurology, Elblandklinikum Meißen-Radebeul (Author)
  • Thorsten Schultheiss - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Jessica Kepplinger - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Hauke Schneider - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Barbel Wiedemann - , Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry (Author)
  • Claudia Wojciechowski - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Heinz Reichmann - , Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Georg Gahn - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Städtischen Klinikum Karlsruhe, Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Ruediger Von Kummer - , Institute and Polyclinic of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)

Abstract

Objective: To determine the reliability and therapeutic impact of standardized cerebral CT evaluation and quantification of early ischemic changes (EIC) with the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) by stroke neurologists in the Stroke Eastern Saxony Network (SOS-NET), which provides telemedical consultations for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Two neuroradiologists re-evaluated all CT scans of consecutive SOS-NET patients in 2009 blinded to clinical information providing reference standard. We defined discrepant CT findings as all false-positive or false-negative EIC and brain pathology findings and ASPECTS deviations >1 point. We subsequently discussed the clinical impact of discrepant CT findings unblinded to clinical information. Weighted kappa (kw) statistic was used to determine the interobserver agreement for ASPECTS. Results: Of 582 patients, complete imaging data were available for 536 patients (351 cerebralischemic events, 105 primary intracranial hemorrhages, and 80 stroke mimics). The neuroradiologists detected discrepant CT findings in 43 patients (8.0%) that were rated as clinically relevant in 9 patients (1.7%). Stroke neurologists recommended IV thrombolysis in 8 patients despite extensive EIC (ASPECTS ≤5). One of these patients had symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. In 1 nonthrombolyzed patient, the stroke neurologist missed subdural hematoma. The interobserver agreement on ASPECTS between stroke neurologists and expert readers was substantial (kw = 0.62; 95% confidence interval 0.54-0.71). Conclusions: Clinically relevant misinterpretation of the CT scans was rare in our acute telestroke service. ASPECTS is a reliable tool to assess the extent of EICby stroke neurologists in telemedicine in real time.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)332-338
Number of pages7
JournalNeurology
Volume80
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 22 Jan 2013
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 23255831
ORCID /0000-0001-7465-8700/work/164619295

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas