Reproducibility of evaluation of the uterus by transvaginal sonography, hysterosonographic examination, hysteroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to evaluate and compare inter-observer reproducibility by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS), hysterosonographic examination (HSE) and hysteroscopy (HY).


METHODS
Different observers consecutively evaluated MRI, TVS, HSE and HY independently in 51 pre-menopausal women, who underwent hysterectomy for benign diseases.


RESULTS
Inter-observer agreement (kappa) was as follows: Exclusion of uterine cavity abnormalities: MRI 0.97, TVS 0.68, HSE 0.48 and HY 0.63; submucous myomas: MRI 0.97, TVS 0.59, HSE 0.60 and HY 0.67; polyps: MRI 0.49, TVS 0.48, HSE 0.35 and HY 0.50; identification of myometrial myomas: MRI 0.97, TVS 0.74; adenomyosis: MRI 0.73 and TVS 0.38. Mean difference between observers in number of observed myomas was (absolute values) MRI 0.58, TVS 0.93. Agreement on evaluation of abnormalities in the uterine cavity, submucous myomas, number of myomas and adenomyosis was significantly greater by MRI than by any of the other techniques, whereas agreement was in line by TVS, HSE and HY.


CONCLUSIONS
Inter-observer disagreement reached substantial levels only for exclusion of uterine cavity benign abnormalities by HY, TVS and HSE. Strategies should be adopted to reduce observer variation of common gynaecological imaging techniques or the less observer-dependent MRI technique could be favoured.
Dueholm
Margit
M
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. hjorth@dadlnet.dk
Lundorf
Erik
E
Sørensen
Joan Solberg
JS
Ledertoug
Susanne
S
Olesen
Frede
F
Laursen
Hanne
H
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011127:Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017697:Premenopause; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*