Choroidal neovascular membranes: Reproducibility of angiographic interpretation

PURPOSE: To determine interobserver agreement for classifying choroidal neo vascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Six fluorescein angiograms of choroidal neo vascular membranes wer e interpreted by 21 retina specialists. Reliability was measured by percent agreement and kappa coefficient. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement of membrane types ranged from perfect conc ordance for a small, classic membrane to near-random classification for a c omplex pattern. Mean kappa coefficient was .64. Interobserver agreement of membrane size was most variable for intermediate size lesions (mean kappa c oefficient = .40). CONCLUSION: Fluorescein angiographic interpretation of choroidal neovascula r membrane type and size can vary considerably. Interobserver agreement is better for membrane type than for membrane size. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Scien ce Inc. All rights reserved.