RadLex needs to add more terminology for chest radiography

Thursday, December 1 | 11:00 a.m.-11:10 a.m. | SSQ07-04 | Room S402AB
This scientific presentation will evaluate the question of whether RadLex, the RSNA-sponsored reference ontology of radiology terms, is complete enough for use in reporting of chest radiographs, a commonly performed exam with a relatively defined group of terms associated with it.

Session presenter Dr. Ryan Woods, a radiology resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and colleagues find this lexicon lacking. They suggest that a more robust, clinically relevant ontology is needed.

For their study, the researchers collected a random sample of 51 chest x-ray reports that had been prepared by three experienced, board-certified radiologists. They segmented terminology used in the findings-and-impressions section of the report, identifying a total of 949 words or phrases identifying an anatomic location, disease, observation, or other clinical term.

They identified 240 terms, of which 60% matched the RadLex lexicon. Disease and anatomic terminologies had the highest correlation, at 72% and 71%, respectively. Only 61% of radiological observations matched that of the RadLex lexicon. Only 28% of surgical devices or procedure terms matched, and imaging recommendations matched 34%.

In view of the frequency of this common x-ray procedure, this study demonstrates surprising deficiencies in RadLex terminology, according to the group.

Page 1 of 603
Next Page