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Original Paper
Quantification of cervical elastography: a reproducibility study
Article first published online: 22 MAY 2012
DOI: 10.1002/uog.11067
Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Molina, F. S., Gómez, L. F., Florido, J., Padilla, M. C. and Nicolaides, K. H. (2012), Quantification of cervical elastography: a reproducibility study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 39: 685–689. doi: 10.1002/uog.11067
Publication History
- Issue published online: 28 MAY 2012
- Article first published online: 22 MAY 2012
- Accepted manuscript online: 15 DEC 2011 05:33AM EST
- Manuscript Accepted: 23 NOV 2011
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- cervical assessment;
- cervical deformability;
- elastography;
- reproducibility;
- transvaginal ultrasound
Abstract
Objectives
To assess a new method for numerical quantification of cervical elastography during pregnancy and to evaluate the repeatability of the measurements.
Methods
Cervical elastography was carried out twice by a single operator in 112 singleton pregnancies at a median of 21 (range, 12–40) weeks' gestation. In 50 of the cases a second operator performed another elastography measurement. The intraobserver and interobserver repeatability of measurements in different parts of the cervix were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients with 95% CI and by Bland–Altman analysis.
Results
There were no statistically significant differences in the elastography measurements made by the same and by two different observers in each area measured, except in the area that receives the force of the transducer directly. The distribution of elastographic measurements obtained in different regions of the cervix demonstrated that the external and superior parts were significantly softer than the internal and inferior parts.
Conclusion
It is possible to provide an objective quantification of elastographic colors in the cervix. The measurements obtained by elastography may be a mere reflection of the force being applied by the transducer to different parts of the cervix. It is too premature to suggest that the measurements of rate-of-change in tissue displacement reflect histological changes that could provide a measure of cervical ripening. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.