Visual grading characteristic (VGC) analysis of uterine artery embolisation (UAE) image quality assessment by interventional radiologists and interventional radiographers

Abstract

Visual grading characteristic (VGC) analysis was used to investigate the performance of interventional radiologists and interventional radiographers when assessing uterine artery embolisation (UAE) image quality. The observers rated the image quality of 20 randomised DSA (digital subtraction angiography) series using a five-point rating scale, which compared Group A (optimised UAE radiation dose; n = 50) with a reference Group B (control group; n = 50). VGC analysis resulted in an area under the VGC curve (AUCVGC) of 0.52 for interventional radiologists (P = 0.83) and 0.55 for interventional radiographers (P = 0.61). Radiation dose reduction had no effect on observer image quality assessments.