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Teleultrasound: How Accurate Are We?
Author(s) -
Rabie Nader Z.,
Sandlin Adam T.,
Barber Kevin A.,
Ounpraseuth Songthip,
Nembhard Wendy,
Magann Everett F.,
Lowery Curtis
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.1002/jum.14304
Subject(s) - medicine , gestation , ultrasound , obstetrics , medical diagnosis , retrospective cohort study , prenatal diagnosis , cohort , population , pregnancy , cohort study , diagnostic accuracy , pediatrics , fetus , radiology , surgery , genetics , environmental health , biology
Objectives Ultrasound serves an important role in the prenatal diagnosis of fetal structural anomalies. Recently, there has been increased use of teleultrasound protocols. We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of teleultrasound. Methods We conducted an Institutional Review Board–approved retrospective cohort study determining the sensitivity and accuracy of teleultrasound. In addition, we evaluated the number of ultrasound examinations required to complete an anatomic survey. Only ultrasound examinations performed for anatomic surveys were included. Studies were excluded if performed before 16 completed weeks' gestation, if they had multiple gestations, or for reasons other than anatomy (eg, Doppler studies and fluid assessment). Prenatal diagnoses were compared with postnatal diagnoses obtained from a robust mandatory birth defects surveillance program that records all birth defects in the entire state, from deliveries before 20 weeks' gestation through infants up to 2 years of age. Results A total of 2499 studies were evaluated; 2368 were included. The teleultrasound cohort had a congenital anomaly prevalence of 5.66%. The sensitivity of teleultrasound was 57.46%; the specificity was 98.21%; and the accuracy was 95.9%. Anatomic surveys were completed after 1 visit in 82% of patients, whereas 63% and 61% of the remaining patients required 2 and 3 visits, respectively. Conclusions Teleultrasound for prenatal diagnosis has similar sensitivity and accuracy as the published literature for on‐site ultrasound. Further studies are needed to compare the sensitivity and accuracy within the same population and further validate this potentially cost‐saving modality.