title: Reproducibility and observer variability of transrectal ultrasound measurements of prostatic volume.
abstract: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is an established investigation in benign and malignant prostatic disease though the level of reproducibility of TRUS volume measurements is not known. A group of observers in the UK and the USA who were participating in linked prospective studies of benign prostatic hyperplasia each carried out measurements during real-time scanning and on a series of static TRUS images. Results demonstrated good reproducibility for measurements of antero-posterior, transverse, and longitudinal dimensions of the prostate by an experienced UK urologist; only a minor degree of interobserver variation occurred in measurements made between experienced UK and USA observers. Using static images, USA observers obtained results that were in good agreement, whereas the UK observers, only two of whom used TRUS regularly, were in poor agreement with each other. This study demonstrates a high level of reproducibility for TRUS volume measurements performed by experienced observers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Stirling Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Raab
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hehir
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Garraway
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002138:Calibration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D015588:Observer Variation; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012007:Rectum; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012606:Scotland; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation