Intra-Observer and Inter-Observer Variability of Renal Volume Measurements in Polycystic Kidney Disease Utilizing a Semi-Automated MR Segmentation Algorithm with HASTE and TrueFISP Sequences

Benjamin A. Cohen¹, Irina Barash², Danny Kim¹, Emilio Vega¹, Matthew D. Sanger¹, Michael Bloom¹, Hersh Chandarana¹

In Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), total renal volume and changes in kidney volume have been identified as sensitive markers of disease progression and, perhaps, response to future novel therapeutics. The aim of this study was to assess the intra-observer and inter-observer variability of a semi-automated MR renal volumetric algorithm in PKD employing fluid sensitive pulse sequences emphasizing cyst conspicuity, specifically HASTE and TrueFISP. This algorithm provided excellent intra-observer (median agreement greater than 97-98%) and very good inter-observer (median agreement greater than 93%) reproducibility. Automated techniques, in development, will hopefully decrease inter-observer variability and processing time to support longitudinal analysis.