Intra and interobserver variability of renal allograft ultrasound volume and resistive index measurements.
OBJECTIVE
Aim of the present study was to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of the Doppler Resistive Index (R.I.) and the Ultrasound renal volume measurement in renal transplants.


METHODS
Twenty-six consecutive patients (18 men, 8 women) mean age of 42,8+/-12,4 years (M+/-SD) (range 22-65 years) were studied twice by each of two trained sonographers using a color Doppler ultrasound scanner. Twelve of them had a normal allograft function (defined as stable serum creatinine levels = or <123,76 micromol/L), whilst the remaining 14 had decreased allograft function (serum creatinine 132.6-265.2 micromol/L). Results were given as mean of 6 measurements performed at upper, middle and lower pole of the kidney. Intra- and interobserver variability was assessed by the repeatability coefficient and coefficient of variation (CV).


RESULTS
Regarding Resistive Index measurement, repeatability coefficient was between 0.04 and 0.06 and the coefficient of variation was <5%. The analysis of the Student's t test did not show any significant difference between the measurements (t=0.15; p=0.87 n.s.). A good reproducibility was also detected in US measurements of renal length and volume.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that Color Doppler Resistive Index measurements of renal allograft and Ultrasound renal volume measurements are repeatable and reproducible.
Mancini
Marcello
M
Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy. marcello.marcini@libero.it
Daniele
Stefania
S
Raffio
Teresa
T
Liuzzi
Raffaele
R
Sabbatini
Massimo
M
Cianciaruso
Bruno
B
Ferrara
Liberato Aldo
LA
Salvatore
Marco
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014655:Vascular Resistance