The learning curve in bladder MRI using VI-RADS assessment score during an interactive dedicated training program

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of an interactive training program on the learning curve of radiology residents for bladder MRI interpretation using the VI-RADS score.MethodsThree radiology residents with minimal experience in bladder MRI served as readers. They blindly evaluated 200 studies divided into 4 subsets of 50 cases over a 3-month period. After 2 months, the first subset was reassessed, resulting in a total of 250 evaluations. An interactive training program was provided and included educational lessons and case-based practice. The learning curve was constructed by plotting mean agreement as the ratio of correct evaluations per batch. Inter-reader agreement and diagnostic performance analysis were performed with kappa statistics and ROC analysis.ResultsAs for the VI-RADS scoring agreement, the kappa differences between pre-training and post-training evaluation of the same group of cases were 0.555 to 0.852 for reader 1, 0.522 to 0.695 for reader 2, and 0.481 to 0.794 for reader 3. Using VI-RADS ≥ 3 as cut-off for muscle invasion, sensitivity ranged from 84 to 89% and specificity from 91 to 94%, while the AUCs from 0.89 (95% CI:0.84, 0.94) to 0.90 (95% CI:0.86, 0.95). Mean evaluation time decreased from 5.21 ± 1.12 to 3.52 ± 0.69 min in subsets 1 and 5. Mean grade of confidence improved from 3.31 ± 0.93 to 4.21 ± 0.69, in subsets 1 and 5.ConclusionAn interactive dedicated education program on bladder MRI and the VI-RADS score led to a significant increase in readers’ diagnostic performance over time, with a general improvement observed after 100–150 cases.Key Points• After the first educational lesson and 100 cases were interpreted, the concordance on VI-RADS scoring between the residents and the experienced radiologist was significantly higher.• An increase in the grade of confidence was experienced after 100 cases.• We found a decrease in the evaluation time after 150 cases.