OMERACT GCA phantom project: validation of a 3D-printed ultrasound training phantom for diagnosis of giant cell arteritis

• DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-005316
• Publication Date: 2025-02-07T03:40:24Z
• Authors: Tobias Schremmer; Christian Dejaco; Florian Recker; Markus Aschwanden; Dennis Boumans; George A Bruyn; Stavros Chrysidis; Thomas Daikeler; Berit Nielsen; Eugenio De Miguel; Andreas P Diamant...; Uffe Moller Dohn; Christina Duftner; Giuseppe Germano; Cees Haagsma; Wolfgang Hartung; Alojzija Hocevar; Annamaria Iagnocco; Aaron Juche; Pantelis Karakostas; Rositsa Karalilova; Kresten Krarup Ke...; Borsha Sarker; Kate Smith; Verena Tischler; Pierluigi Macchioni; Marcin Milchert; Sara Monti; Chetan Mukhtyar; Esperanza Naredo; Wolfgang A Schmidt; Luca Seitz; Lene Terslev; Richard J Wakefield; Valentin Sebastia...
• Keywords: Giant Cell Arteritis; Ultrasonography; Vasculitis; 616; R; 610; Medicine; Education

ObjectiveUltrasonography is crucial for diagnosing giant cell arteritis (GCA); however, training opportunities are rare. This study tested the reliability of ultrasonography findings and measurements of the intima-media thickness (IMT) among ultrasonography experts by using phantoms of the axillary (AA) and temporal arteries (TA) created with high-resolution 3D printing.MethodsTwenty-eight participants from 12 European countries received eight sets of phantoms of the AA and the superficial TA (including common, frontal and parietal branches), which were examined in a blinded fashion according to a predefined protocol and evaluated based on Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) GCA ultrasound definitions. Due to difficulties with the delineation of the intima-media complex, the parietal branch of the phantoms was modified, and a second round was conducted. The IMT was measured, and phantoms were classified as normal or vasculitic.ResultsIn both rounds, the phantoms were correctly classified as normal/abnormal in >81% of cases yielding a Fleiss’ kappa of 0.80 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.81) in round 1 and 0.74 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.75) in round 2. IMT measurements revealed an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 1.1) of 0.98 (95% CI 0.98 to 0.99) in both rounds. Intrarater reliability was good with a median Cohens Kappa of 0.83 and median ICC of 0.78.ConclusionThe study demonstrated high reliability among ultrasound experts in applying the OMERACT ultrasound definitions for GCA and in measuring the IMT using a 3D-printed phantom of the AA and TA. This phantom could assist clinicians in training to assess the large arteries of patients with suspected or established GCA.