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Consensus conference on core radiological parameters to describe lumbar stenosis - an initiative for structured reporting

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Abstract

Purpose

To define radiological criteria and parameters as a minimum standard in a structured radiological report for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and to identify criteria and parameters for research purposes.

Material and methods

All available radiological criteria and parameters for LSS were identified using systematic literature reviews and a Delphi survey. We invited to the consensus meeting, and provided data, to 15 internationally renowned experts from different countries. During the meeting, these experts reached consensus in a structured and systematic discussion about a core list of radiological criteria and parameters for standard reporting.

Results

We identified a total of 27 radiological criteria and parameters for LSS. During the meeting, the experts identified five of these as core items for a structured report. For central stenosis, these were “compromise of the central zone” and “relation between fluid and cauda equina”. For lateral stenosis, the group agreed that “nerve root compression in the lateral recess” was a core item. For foraminal stenosis, we included “nerve root impingement” and “compromise of the foraminal zone”.

Conclusion

As a minimum standard, five radiological criteria should be used in a structured radiological report in LSS. Other parameters are well suited for research.

Key Points

• The five most important radiological criteria for standard clinical reporting were selected

• The five most important quantitative radiological parameters for research purposes were selected

• These core criteria could help standardize the communication between health care providers

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Gustav Andreisek. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. The meeting was financed from the annual budget of the Horten Center, Zurich. No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional Review Board approval was not required because of the nature of the study. Methodology: prospective, multicentre study.

The authors thank Michele Mattle for organizing the meeting, Ursula Meyer for co-organizing the meeting, Dr. med. Sebastian F.-X. Winklhofer for his assistance to the organizers, Dr. med. Alexis Puhan for moderating the meeting, Dr. Christina Gmünder and Dr. Maria Wertli for the written documentation, Reto Kofmehl for the audiovisual recording of the meeting, and all other unnamed coworkers who have supported the meeting.

Alphabetical list of experts who participated in the consensus meeting: Gustav Andreisek, John A. Carrino, Richard A. Deyo, Janna L. Friedly, Jürg Hodler, Jeffrey G. Jarvik, Anne Mannion, Beat Michel, Alexander Nydegger, Christian W.A. Pfirrmann, François Porchet, Florian Ringel, Johann Steurer, Lukas Wildi, and Sebastian F.-X. Winklhofer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Gustav Andreisek & Sebastian F. X. Winklhofer

  2. Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Richard A. Deyo

  3. University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Jeffrey G. Jarvik

  4. Schulthess Klinik, Zürich, Switzerland

    Francois Porchet

  5. Horten Center for patient oriented research and knowledge transfer, University Hospital Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Johann Steurer

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  1. Gustav Andreisek
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On behalf of the LSOS working group

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Correspondence to Gustav Andreisek.

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Andreisek, G., Deyo, R.A., Jarvik, J.G. et al. Consensus conference on core radiological parameters to describe lumbar stenosis - an initiative for structured reporting. Eur Radiol 24, 3224–3232 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3346-z

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