Can radiological technologists serve as primary screeners of low-dose computed tomography for the diagnosis of lung cancer?

Subtitle: (Analysis Based on the Results of Certifying Examinations over a 10 year Period)

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Arai, T.^{a; *} | Nagashima, C.^b | Muramatsu, Y.^c | Murao, K.^d | Yamaguchi, I.^e | Ushio, N.^f | Hanai, K.^g | Kaneko, M.^h

Affiliations: [a] Center Hospital of the National Center to Global Health and Medicine, Toyama Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan | [b] National Cancer Center Japan Tsukiji Campus, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan | [c] National Cancer Center Japan Kashiwa Campus, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi Chiba, Japan | [d] National Institute of Informatics, Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan | [e] Butsuryo College of Osaka, Otorikitamachi, Sakai-shi, Osaka, Japan | [f] Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital Hospital, Otsu-shi, seta, tukinowa-cho, Shiga, Japan | [g] Fukujiji Hospital, Matsuyama, Kiyose-shi, Tokyo, Japan | [h] Tokyo Health Service Association, Ichigayasadoharacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Tomohiro Arai, RT, PhD, 1-21-1 Toyama Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan. Tel.: +81 3 3202 7181; Fax: +81 3 3207 1038; E-mail: depository.of.mail@gmail.com.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The Accreditation Council for Lung Cancer CT Screening of Japan established guidelines for the certification of Radiological Technologists in 2009. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the trends in examination pass rates of the Radiological Technologists and discuss the reasons. METHODS:The cohort comprised 1593 Radiological Technologists (as examinees) based on 10-year of data (with a total of 17 examination runs). First, the examinees’ written test results were analyzed. Second, an abnormal finding detection test was conducted using >100 client PCs connected to a dedicated server containing low-dose lung cancer CT screening images of 60 cases. The passing scores were correct answer rate >60% and sensitivity (TP) of >90%, respectively. RESULTS:Overall, 1243 examinees passed with an overall rate of 78%. The average pass rate for the written test was 91%, whereas that for the abnormal findings detection test was 85%. There was a moderate correlation between the test pass rate and average years of clinical experience of the examinees for the abnormal findings detection test (R = 0.558), whereas no such correlation existed for the written test (R = 0.105). CONCLUSIONS:In order for accredited Radiological Technologists to serve as primary screeners of low-dose computed tomography, it is important to revise the educational system according to current standard practices.

Keywords: Lung, radiological technologist, computed tomography, education, training

DOI: 10.3233/XST-180409

Journal: Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology, vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 909-917, 2018