Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Nephrocalcinosis in Premature Infants

Variability in Ultrasound Detection

Journal of Perinatology volume 19, pages 498–500 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To measure variability among radiologists in the ultrasound diagnosis of nephrocalcinosis in premature infants.

METHODOLOGY:

In this prospective multicenter study, renal ultrasounds were performed on 54 very low birth weight infants using a 5.0- and 7.5-MHz transducer, and these ultrasounds were read independently by three radiologists. κ coefficients were calculated to assess variability in identification of nephrocalcinosis among the radiologists.

RESULTS:

The κ coefficient (± confidence intervals) using a 5.0-MHz transducer was 0.143 (0.108, 0.178); using the 7.5-MHz transducer, the κ coefficient was 0.268 (0.243, 0.293). All three radiologists agreed in their identification of nephrocalcinosis on 3 of 54 ultrasounds using a 5.0-MHz transducer; a total of 6 of 54 ultrasounds obtained using a 7.5-MHz transducer were read as positive by all three radiologists.

CONCLUSION: There is significant variability among radiologists in the ultrasound identification of nephrocalcinosis in premature infants; a 7.5-MHz ultrasound transducer is associated with less variability in recognizing this lesion.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA

    Thomas Campfield MD & Gary Rockwell MD

  2. Department of Radiology, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA

    Frederick Hampf MD

  3. Department of Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA

    Gregory Braden MD

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

    Thomas Campfield MD & Gary Rockwell MD

  5. Department of Radiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

    Frederick Hampf MD

  6. Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

    Gregory Braden MD

  7. Division of Neonatology, Memorial Health Care, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA

    Francis J Bednarek MD

  8. Department of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Worcester, MA

    Francis J Bednarek MD

  9. University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, Worcester, MA

    Antonio Pangan MD

  10. Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT

    Mariann Pappagallo MD

  11. Department of Radiology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT

    John Ziewacz MD

  12. Diagnostic Radiology, Memorial Health Care, Worcester, MA

    Jacqueline Wellman MD

  13. Department of Nutrition, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

    Thomas Campfield MD, Francis J Bednarek MD, Mariann Pappagallo MD, Frederick Hampf MD, John Ziewacz MD, Jacqueline Wellman MD, Gary Rockwell MD, Gregory Braden MD, Patrecia Flynn-Valone RD, Michael Neylan & Antonio Pangan MD

  14. Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH

    Thomas Campfield MD, Francis J Bednarek MD, Mariann Pappagallo MD, Frederick Hampf MD, John Ziewacz MD, Jacqueline Wellman MD, Gary Rockwell MD, Gregory Braden MD, Patrecia Flynn-Valone RD, Michael Neylan & Antonio Pangan MD

Authors
  1. Thomas Campfield MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Francis J Bednarek MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mariann Pappagallo MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Frederick Hampf MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. John Ziewacz MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jacqueline Wellman MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Gary Rockwell MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Gregory Braden MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Patrecia Flynn-Valone RD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Michael Neylan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Antonio Pangan MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by Ross Products Division of AbbottLaboratories.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Campfield, T., Bednarek, F., Pappagallo, M. et al. Nephrocalcinosis in Premature Infants. J Perinatol 19, 498–500 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200263

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200263

Search

Advanced search

Quick links