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Intraobserver and interobserver variability of ovarian volume, gray‐scale and color flow indices obtained using transvaginal three‐dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography
Author(s) -
Järvelä I. Y.,
Sladkevicius P.,
Tekay A. H.,
Campbell S.,
Nargund G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.62
Subject(s) - reproducibility , repeatability , medicine , intraclass correlation , nuclear medicine , power doppler , controlled ovarian hyperstimulation , limits of agreement , ultrasonography , radiology , in vitro fertilisation , mathematics , pregnancy , statistics , genetics , biology
Abstract Objective To assess intraobserver and interobserver variability in ovarian volume and gray‐scale and color flow index measurements using transvaginal, three‐dimensional, power Doppler ultrasonography. Methods Eleven women (22 ovaries) were examined on day 8 of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation therapy, which was part of their in vitro fertilization treatment protocol. The patients were examined twice by the first observer and once by the second observer. The acquired volume datasets were analyzed using the VOCAL ™ imaging program, enabling the assessment of ovarian volume, vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), vascularization flow index (VFI) and mean grayness (MG). For these parameters the intraclass (intra‐CC) and interclass (inter‐CC) correlation coefficients, within‐observer and between‐observers repeatability coefficient ( r ) and limits of agreement were calculated. Results Both intraobserver and interobserver repeatability of ovarian volume measurements were considered very good with an intra‐CC value of 1.00 and inter‐CC value of 0.99, respectively. Also VI, FI, VFI and MG measurements were repeatable by a single observer, the intra‐CC ranging from 0.82 to 0.91. The interobserver reproducibility was also good for VI, VFI and MG measurements (inter‐CC values 0.73, 0.70 and 0.81, respectively), but for FI measurements the reproducibility was poor (inter‐ CC = 0.29, r = 7.87). Conclusions In general, the intraobserver reproducibility was better than interobserver reproducibility for all parameters. The volume assessments were reproducible both by one observer and by two separate observers. The intraobserver and interobserver variabilities were acceptable for VI, VFI and MG, whereas for FI the interobserver reproducibility was poor. Our results suggest that measurement of gray‐scale and color Doppler flow indices is reproducible thus allowing them to be used in clinical practice and research. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.