Observer differences in detecting erosions in radiographs of rheumatoid arthritis. A comparison of posteroanterior, Nørgaard and Brewerton views
Mewa, A.A.; Pui, M.; Cockshott, W.P.; Buchanan, W.W.
Journal of Rheumatology 10(2): 216-221
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 6864676 Document Number: 220173
No significant advantage of Brewerton or Norgaard radiographs was shown in detection of erosions at metacarpophalangeal joints in patients with polyarthritis over the conventional posteroanterior view. The observer agreement for detection of exact number of erosions/pair of hands is uniformly low. Therefore, erosion index cannot be reliably used in epidemiologic surveys or therapeutic trials as an outcome measure unless steps are taken to improve the observer agreement.