Transrectal three-dimensional fetal volumetry and crown-rump length measurement during early gestation in mares: Intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate if transrectal three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound is a reliable technique to measure equine fetal volume (FV) during early gestation in mares. In total 149 warmblood mares were examined once transrectally on days 45 ± 1 of pregnancy with a portable 3D ultrasound device (Voluson i, GE Healthcare, Zipf, Austria). The following measurements were performed: Two-dimensional (2D) and 3D crown-rump length (CRL), FV using Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL™) software with rotational angles of 6° and 30°. To analyze intra- and inter-observer reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)) and agreement (Bland-Altman's limits of agreement (LoA)) of FV measurements, images from 60 horse fetuses were selected and repeatedly analyzed by the same examiner (A) and by a second examiner (B). The time for each ultrasound examination (2D and 3D) and for the FV measurements was recorded. The 3D measured CRL was larger (P < 0.001) than the 2D CRL. Repeated measurements of 3D CRL showed a higher reliability (ICC = 0.91 (0.88-0.94), P < 0.001) and agreement (mean = 0.13%, 95% LoA: 7.45 to +7.19) compared to reliability (ICC = 0.50 (0.36-0.61), P < 0.001) and agreement (mean = -1.54%, 95% LoA: 23.29 to +20.21) of the CRL measurement in 2D mode. For intra-observer examinations, reliability was highest when using a rotational angle of 30° (ICC = 0.98 (0.97-0.99), P < 0.001). The inter-observer reliability of 3D measurements was good (ICC = 0.85 (0.67-0.92), P < 0.001). The extra time needed to perform the 3D scan ranged from 1 to 9 min and FV measurements lasted 03:30 ± 00:46 and 08:10 ± 01:05, for rotational angles of 30° and 6°, respectively. In conclusion, this study showed a high level of intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement for FV measurements using VOCAL™. Furthermore, the 6° and 30° rotational angles can be used interchangeably, but test duration, reliability and agreement were better with the 30° rotational step method. The CRL measurements obtained with 3D mode probably reflects the true CRL, compared to the 2D measured CRL.
Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2018-11-16 PubMed ID: 30590249DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.11.012Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study sought to ascertain whether three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound could accurately measure the size of horse fetuses during early pregnancy. The findings indicated a high level of consistency and agreement between observers, suggesting the 3D method is indeed reliable.
Objective and Approach
- The research aimed to test the reliability of transrectal 3D ultrasounds in measuring the fetal volume (FV) during early pregnancy in horses. The study involved 149 warmblood mares each examined once using a 3D ultrasound device.
- Two-dimensional (2D) and 3D crown-rump length (CRL) was measured along with the FV. The measurements were analyzed using Virtual Organ Computer-aided Analysis (VOCAL™) software with rotational angles of 6° and 30°.
- The research also aimed at measuring the intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement of FV measurements, a total of 60 horse fetuses were selected for this analysis.
Key Findings
- It was found that the 3D measured CRL was larger than the 2D CRL.
- Further, repeated measurements of 3D CRL showed a higher reliability and agreement in comparison to the CRL measurement in 2D mode.
- In terms of intra-observer examinations, the reliability was highest when using a rotational angle of 30°.
- The inter-observer reliability of 3D measurements was also good.
- The time needed to perform the 3D scan ranged from 1 to 9 minutes, and FV measurements lasted between 03:30 to 08:10 minutes, for rotational angles of 30° and 6°, respectively.
Conclusion
- This study demonstrated a high level of intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement for FV measurements using VOCAL™.
- The 6° and 30° rotational angles can be used interchangeably, but the test duration, reliability and agreement were better with the 30° rotational step method.
- The CRL measurements obtained with 3D mode probably reflects the true CRL, compared to the 2D measured CRL. This suggests that 3D ultrasound is a reliable technique for measuring the size of horse fetuses during the early stages of pregnancy.
Cite This Article
APA
Becsek A, Tzanidakis N, Blanco M, Bollwein H.
(2018).
Transrectal three-dimensional fetal volumetry and crown-rump length measurement during early gestation in mares: Intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement.
Theriogenology, 126, 266-271.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.11.012 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: abecsek@vetclinics.uzh.ch.
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: ntzanidakis@vetclinics.uzh.ch.
- Lewitz Stud, Lewitzhof 1, 19306, Neustadt-Glewe, Germany. Electronic address: miguelblanco_vet@hotmail.com.
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: hbollwein@vetclinics.uzh.ch.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Crown-Rump Length
- Fetus / anatomy & histology
- Fetus / diagnostic imaging
- Gestational Age
- Horses / growth & development
- Imaging, Three-Dimensional / veterinary
- Observer Variation
- Ultrasonography, Prenatal / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Succu S, Contu E, Bebbere D, Gadau SD, Falchi L, Nieddu SM, Ledda S. Fetal Growth and Osteogenesis Dynamics during Early Development in the Ovine Species. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 21;13(5).
- Ortega-Ferrusola C, Gómez-Arrones V, Martín-Cano FE, Gil MC, Peña FJ, Gaitskell-Phillips G, Da Silva-Álvarez E. Advances in the ultrasound diagnosis in equine reproductive medicine: New approaches. Reprod Domest Anim 2022 Oct;57 Suppl 5(Suppl 5):34-44.
- Pestelacci S, Tzanidakis N, Reichler IM, Balogh O. Comparison of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography for gestational ageing in the early to mid-pregnant bitch. Reprod Domest Anim 2022 Mar;57(3):235-245.
- Lian X, Xu Z, Zheng L, Zhu Z, Ejiwale T, Kumar A, Cai P, He S, Liu S, Zhang Y, Lyu G. Reference range of fetal thorax using two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasound VOCAL technique and application in fetal thoracic malformations. BMC Med Imaging 2021 Feb 22;21(1):34.
- Wang Y, Liu X, Sun R, Wei N, Li X, Zou Y, Wang H. Automated endometrial identification and volume calculation in normal uteri using a novel smart ERA technique. Sci Rep 2024 Sep 4;14(1):20525.
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