Premium
The inter‐rater and intra‐rater reliability of a recently developed equation to determine liver volume using three simple two‐dimensional ultrasound measurements
Author(s) -
Childs Jessie,
Lamb Kathryn
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
sonography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2054-6750
pISSN - 2202-8323
DOI - 10.1002/sono.12161
Subject(s) - reliability (semiconductor) , volume (thermodynamics) , ultrasound , ultrasonography , structural equation modeling , nuclear medicine , mathematics , medicine , statistics , surgery , radiology , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
A reliable way to measure the size of the adult liver is valuable for numerous reasons, including the diagnosis of disease and the tracking of disease or response to treatment or intervention over time. This study sought to determine the intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability of a recently developed equation to calculate liver volume using three simple two‐dimensional (2D) ultrasound measurements: A dome to tip measurement in the midclavicular line (A), an anterior to posterior measurement in the midclavicular line (B) and an anterior to posterior measurement in the midline (C), placed into the equation 343.71 + [0.84 × A × B × C]. While the three measures have been shown to be reliable, it is also important to determine the reliability of the equation as there is potential for error to be magnified by the multiplication process. Methods Two examiners acquired two ultrasound images of the liver of each participant, performed the three measurements and calculated the liver volume using the equation. One examiner repeated the images and measurements. Results All measurements demonstrated high intra‐rater reliability [intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICCs) 0.851–0.972] with the volume equation having an ICC of 0.954 and limits of agreement of 178.7 cm 3 . All measurements also demonstrated high inter‐rater reliability (ICCs 0.761–0.954) with the volume equation having an ICC value of 0.918 and limits of agreement of 246.4 cm 3 . Conclusion The liver volume equation can be reliably performed by both the same rater and different raters.