Choroidal neovascular membranes: reproducibility of angiographic interpretation.

Abstract

To determine interobserver agreement for classifying choroidal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration. Six fluorescein angiograms of choroidal neovascular membranes were interpreted by 21 retina specialists. Reliability was measured by percent agreement and kappa coefficient. Interobserver agreement of membrane types ranged from perfect concordance for a small, classic membrane to near-random classification for a complex pattern. Mean kappa coefficient was.64. Interobserver agreement of membrane size was most variable for intermediate size lesions (mean kappa coefficient =.40). Fluorescein angiographic interpretation of choroidal neovascular membrane type and size can vary considerably. Interobserver agreement is better for membrane type than for membrane size.