Abstract
Objectives
We aimed to compare three methods for cervical volume measurements. There is a known correlation between loop electrosurgical excision procedures and the risk of preterm birth. Authors hypothesise that in the future pre-pregnancy cervical regeneration level after LEEP procedures could be used for risk stratification for preterm birth. Therefore, available and easily reproducible methods are needed to study cervical volume and regeneration in clinical practice.
Methods
Cervical two- and three-dimensional (3D) measurements were obtained by pre-defined criteria during a gynecological ultrasound and assessed by two examiners in a blinded manner from the archive. Measurements included: cervical length (CL), cervical anteroposterior (AP), and longitudinal (LL) diameters. Cervical volume was measured three times by 3D VOCAL (Virtual Organ Computer-Aided Analysis) software (VVOCAL), by cylinder formula VFORMULA = 3.14×[AP+LL)/4]2 ×Length CERVIX and devices inbuilt generic volume formula VGENERIC = length x AP X LL. For inter method and interobserver agreement VCYLINDER FORMULA, VGENERIC formula use was compared to VVOCAL, as a gold standard. ICC (interclass correlation coefficient) was calculated, using a two-way mixed-effects model in SPSS.
Results
We included 100 participants, average age 34,21 years. Average cervical VGENERIC =16.78 cm3, VVOCAL 25.05 cm3, VCYLINDER FORMULA 25.61 cm3. Generic formula underestimated cervical volume by 49% compared to VCYLINDER FORMULA, therefore VGENERIC measurements were excluded from further analysis. Interobserver coefficient (ICC) VVOCAL= 0.92 (p < .00, CI 0.87-0.92), VCYLINDER FORMULA=0.93, (p < .00, CI 0.89-0.95) was excellent. Intermethod ICC between VVOCAL and VCYLINDER FORMULA =0.94 (p < .00, CI 0.91-0.96).
Conclusions
Excellent intermethod agreement suggests that cylinder formula use is compatible with VOCAL cervical volume measurements. Excellent interobserver shows that measurements are reproducible between observers. Cervical volume measurement by cylinder formula could be a cost-effective alternative to VOCAL software use, implicating its wider use in practice.
We aimed to compare three methods for cervical volume measurements. There is a known correlation between loop electrosurgical excision procedures and the risk of preterm birth. Authors hypothesise that in the future pre-pregnancy cervical regeneration level after LEEP procedures could be used for risk stratification for preterm birth. Therefore, available and easily reproducible methods are needed to study cervical volume and regeneration in clinical practice.
Methods
Cervical two- and three-dimensional (3D) measurements were obtained by pre-defined criteria during a gynecological ultrasound and assessed by two examiners in a blinded manner from the archive. Measurements included: cervical length (CL), cervical anteroposterior (AP), and longitudinal (LL) diameters. Cervical volume was measured three times by 3D VOCAL (Virtual Organ Computer-Aided Analysis) software (VVOCAL), by cylinder formula VFORMULA = 3.14×[AP+LL)/4]2 ×Length CERVIX and devices inbuilt generic volume formula VGENERIC = length x AP X LL. For inter method and interobserver agreement VCYLINDER FORMULA, VGENERIC formula use was compared to VVOCAL, as a gold standard. ICC (interclass correlation coefficient) was calculated, using a two-way mixed-effects model in SPSS.
Results
We included 100 participants, average age 34,21 years. Average cervical VGENERIC =16.78 cm3, VVOCAL 25.05 cm3, VCYLINDER FORMULA 25.61 cm3. Generic formula underestimated cervical volume by 49% compared to VCYLINDER FORMULA, therefore VGENERIC measurements were excluded from further analysis. Interobserver coefficient (ICC) VVOCAL= 0.92 (p < .00, CI 0.87-0.92), VCYLINDER FORMULA=0.93, (p < .00, CI 0.89-0.95) was excellent. Intermethod ICC between VVOCAL and VCYLINDER FORMULA =0.94 (p < .00, CI 0.91-0.96).
Conclusions
Excellent intermethod agreement suggests that cylinder formula use is compatible with VOCAL cervical volume measurements. Excellent interobserver shows that measurements are reproducible between observers. Cervical volume measurement by cylinder formula could be a cost-effective alternative to VOCAL software use, implicating its wider use in practice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 128 |
| Journal | Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | Suppl.1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 14 Oct 2021 |
| Event | 31st World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology - Virtual Duration: 15 Oct 2021 → 18 Oct 2021 Conference number: 31 https://www.isuog.org/events/past-events/online-2021.html |
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)