Scientific publications
Reproducibility of the International Endometrial Analysis Group Color Score for Assigning the Amount of Flow Within the Endometrium Using Stored 3-Dimensional Volumes
Alcázar JL (1), Pascual MÁ (2), Ajossa S (3), de Lorenzo C (2), Piras A (3), Hereter L (2), Juez L (1), Fabbri P (3), Graupera B (2), Guerriero S (3).
(1) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
(2) Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.
(3) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cagliari, Policlinico Universitario Duilio Casula, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
OBJECTIVES:
To estimate intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility for assigning an International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) group color score for endometrial vascularization on color Doppler imaging.
METHODS:
Sixty-eight endometrial 3-dimensional volumes from endometrial color Doppler assessments of women with different endometrial disorders were evaluated by 8 different examiners (4 skilled examiners and 4 obstetric and gynecologic trainees).
One skilled examiner who did not participate in the assessments selected the 68 volumes from a database to select a balanced number of each IETA score.
Each examiner evaluated the 68 endometrial volumes to assign the IETA color score (1, absence of vascularization; 2, low vascularization; 3, moderate vascularization; or 4, abundant vascularization) using tomographic ultrasound imaging.
The analysis was repeated 4 weeks later, and interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility was analyzed by calculating the weighted κ index. The second of the measurements made by each observer was used to estimate interobserver reproducibility.
RESULTS:
The intraobserver reproducibility was very good for all examiners, with a weighted κ index ranging from 0.84 to 0.91. The interobserver reproducibility was good or very good for all estimated comparisons, with a weighted κ index ranging from 0.77 to 0.96, regardless of experience level.
CONCLUSIONS:
The reproducibility of assigning the IETA color score for assessing endometrial vascularization using 3-dimensional volumes is good or very good regardless of the experience of the examiner.
CITA DEL ARTÍCULO J Ultrasound Med. 2017 Apr 27. doi: 10.7863/ultra.16.06002
