Comparison of the clinical usefulness of structured and free-text reports for interpretation of jaw lesions on cone beam computed tomography images

Abstract

Objective. This study compared the clinical usefulness of structured reports (SRs) and free-text reports (FTRs) of lesions depicted on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images from the perspectives of report providers and receivers. Study Design. In total, 36 CBCT images of jaw lesions obtained between February 2020 and August 2020 were evaluated. A working group of 3 oral and maxillofacial radiologists (OMRs) established a reporting system and prepared reports. Evaluation group I (2 OMRs) wrote SRs and FTRs for each case and assessed the reporting process for the criteria of convenience and organization. Evaluation group II (3 general practitioners [GPs] and 3 oral and maxillofacial surgeons [OMSs]) assessed the reports for the criteria of productivity, consistency, and organization. A 5-point Likert scale was used to assess the usefulness of each report. Scores were statistically compared according to report type with the paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results. The SRs scored significantly higher for all criteria as assessed by evaluation group I and the GPs of group II (P <.001). The FTRs scored significantly higher for productivity and organization as assessed by the OMSs of group II (P =.005 for both criteria). Conclusions. The clinical usefulness of reports may differ according to roles of the report recipients in diagnosis and treatment. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2023;135:147- 153)