A standardized MRI classification system improved the accuracy and consistency of lumbar spinal stenosis grading among radiologists and spine specialists, according to a study published July 4 in Academic Radiology.
Researchers from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. evaluated a structured educational program based on a modified lumbar spinal stenosis classification system. 37 physicians from six specialties graded 114 lumbar disc levels before and after training, according to the study.
Overall grading accuracy improved from 54.5% to 61.2%, while interobserver reliability increased from 0.71 to 0.75. Cases in which physicians differed by more than one severity grade fell from 3.7% to 2.0%.
The researchers said adopting a standardized reporting language could improve communication among specialties, support quality improvement efforts and provide a foundation for future AI tools trained to assess lumbar spinal stenosis MRI scans.
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