Computed tomography volume measurements of the liver using a liver segmentation and analysis package: an intra- and inter-rater reliability study

Abstract

Introduction: Recent advances in technology have seen the introduction of software assisted image post-processing (SAIP)tools to calculate the volume of the liver from Computed Tomography (CT) images. One such SAIP tool is the semi-automatedPhilips liver segmentation and analysis package (Endhoven, The Netherlands). The intra- and inter-rater reliability of the livervolumes of 16 participants calculated using this tool was assessed.

Methods: Two CT Technologists accessed Abdominal CT data sets and calculated the volume of the liver using the Philips liversegmentation and analysis package. One technologist repeated their calculation.

Results: Results demonstrated high intra-rater reliability (ICC 0.9997) and high inter-rater reliability (ICC 0.99994). Analysiswith Bland Altman plots showed the mean bias for both intra- and inter-rater reliability to be close to zero with acceptable limitsof agreement.

Conclusions: This study has shown that liver volume measurements using the Philips SAIP (Endhoven, The Netherlands) can betaken reliably by CT technologists, with confidence that the same results would be obtained between different CT technologists.