JCU 2017 Reviewers

Vollständiger Abstract

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<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the intra-and interobserver reproducibility of the cervical elastography index (EI) measurements using strain elastography (SE) with a standardized acquisition protocol.<h4>Methods</h4>In this prospective cross-sectional study, 301 women between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation underwent transvaginal ultrasound examination (TVUS). Cervical length (CL) and EI were measured using a defined region of interest (ROI) protocol positioned at the internal and external cervical os, maintaining a 5 mm standardized probe-to-cervix distance. Measurements were performed twice by Examiner 1 and once by Examiner 2. Reproducibility was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Intraobserver reproducibility was high for CL (ICC = 0.984) and EI (ICC = 0.991). Interobserver reproducibility was high for CL (ICC = 0.903) and high for EI (ICC = 0.910 and 0.906). Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated minimal bias and narrow limits of agreement for both measurements.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Using a standardized acquisition protocol, strain elastography-derived EI demonstrates high intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility comparable to CL measurement. These findings support its potential clinical applicability in mid-trimester cervical assessment.

Abstract: PubMed · Datensatz