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Measurements from image‐based three dimensional pelvic floor reconstruction: A study of inter‐ and intraobserver reliability
Author(s) -
Hoyte Lennox,
Brubaker Linda,
Fielding Julia R.,
Lockhart Mark E.,
Heilbrun Marta E.,
Salomon Caryl G.,
Ye Wen,
Brown Morton B.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.21847
Subject(s) - intraclass correlation , categorical variable , reliability (semiconductor) , standard deviation , continuous variable , pelvic floor , computer science , medicine , limits of agreement , mathematics , nuclear medicine , reproducibility , statistics , surgery , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Purpose To describe inter‐ and intraobserver reliability of 3D measurements of female pelvic floor structures. Materials and Methods Twenty reconstructed MR datasets of primiparas at 6–12 months postpartum were analyzed. Pelvic organ measurements were independently made twice by three radiologists blinded to dataset order. A “within‐reader” analysis, a “between‐reader” analysis, and the intraclass correlation (ICC), and standard deviation ratio (SDR) were computed for each parameter. Fifteen continuous variables and one categorical variable were measured. Results Eight continuous parameters showed excellent agreement (ICC >0.85 / SDR <0.40), five parameters showed relatively good agreement (ICC >0.70 / SDR ≥0.40, <0.60). Two parameters showed poor agreement (ICC ≤0.70 and/or SDR ≥0.60). The categorical variable showed poor agreement. Conclusion Agreement was best where landmark edges were well defined, acceptable where more “reader judgment” was needed, and poor where levator defects made landmarks difficult to identify. Automated measurement algorithms are under study and may improve agreement in the future. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:344–350. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.