Clinical utility of the Bosniak classification version 2019: Diagnostic value of adding magnetic resonance imaging to computed tomography examination

•Combined CT/MRI is useful for diagnosing malignancy in patients with CRMs.•Combined CT/MRI using BC2019 especially aids non-expert readers.•Interobserver agreement for BC2019 in combined CT/MRI was substantial among readers.•Expert and non-expert readers detected significantly more septa on combined CT/MRI. To assess the impact of the updated Bosniak classification (BC2019) for cystic renal masses (CRMs) on interobserver agreement between radiologists and urologists and the diagnostic value of adding MRI to CT examination (combined CT/MRI). This study included 103 CRMs from 83 consecutive patients assessed using contrast-enhanced CT and MRI between 2010 and 2016. Nine readers in three groups (three radiologists, three radiology residents, and three urologists) reviewed CT alone and the combined CT/MRI using BC2019. Bosniak category was determined by consensus in each group for diagnosing malignancy, with a cut-off category of ≧III. Interobserver agreement was assessed using Fleiss’ kappa values. The effect of CT or combined CT/MRI on the diagnosis of malignancy was assessed using McNemar’s test. Interobserver agreement of BC2019 for CT alone was substantial for radiologists and residents, moderate for urologists (0.77, 0.63, and 0.58, respectively). Interobserver agreement of BC2019 for combined CT/MRI was substantial for all three groups (radiologists: 0.78; residents: 0.65; and urologists: 0.61). Among residents, the sensitivity/specificity/accuracy rates of combined CT/MRI vs. CT alone were 82.1/74.7/76.7% vs. 75.0/66.7/68.9%, and specificity and accuracy were significantly higher for combined CT/MRI than that for CT alone (p = 0.03 and 0.008, respectively). Similarly, sensitivity/specificity/accuracy values were significantly higher for combined CT/MRI among urologists (78.6/73.3/74.8% vs. 64.3/64.0/64.1%, p = 0.04/0.04/0.008). However, sensitivity/specificity/accuracy did not significantly differ between the two among radiologists (89.3/74.7/78.6% vs. 85.7/73.3/76.7%, p = 0.32/0.56/0.32). Combined CT/MRI is useful for diagnosing malignancy in patients with CRMs using BC2019, especially for non-expert readers.