Evaluation of a Computer-Aided Diagnosis System for Automated Bone Age Assessment in Comparison to the Greulich-Pyle Atlas Method: A Multireader Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate a novel version of a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system developed for automated bone age (BA) assessment in comparison to the Greulich and Pyle method, regarding its accuracy and the influence of carpal bones on BA assessment. Total BA, BA of the left distal radius, and BA of carpal bones in 305 patients were determined independently by 3 blinded radiologists and assessed by the CAD system. Pearson product-moment correlation, Bland-Altman plot, root-mean-square deviation, and further agreement analyses were computed. Mean total BA and BA of the distal radius showed high correlation between both approaches (r = 0.985 and r = 0.963). There was significantly higher correlation between values of total BA and BA of the distal radius (r = 0.969) compared with values of total BA and BA of carpal bones (r = 0.923). The assessment of carpal bones showed significantly lower interreader agreement compared with measurements of the distal radius (κ = 0.79 vs κ = 0.98). A novel version of a CAD system enables highly accurate automated BA assessment. The assessment of carpal bones revealed lower precision and interreader agreement. Therefore, methods determining BA without analyzing carpal bones may be more precise and accurate.