Intra- and interobserver repeatability of fetal cardiac examination using four-dimensional spatiotemporal image correlation in each trimester of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the intra- and interobserver repeatability of the evaluation of fetal cardiac structures and measurements using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) technology in each trimester of pregnancy.


METHODS
Four-dimensional (4D)-STIC volumes from 150 low-risk pregnancies were acquired at first-, second- or third-trimester scan for later analysis by two different reviewers. A total of 19 items, including the evaluation of 14 structures as well as five measurements of the fetal heart, were evaluated. The reliability of qualitative variables was evaluated using Cohen's kappa and absolute agreement analysis while that of quantitative parameters was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).


RESULTS
Forty-five, 47 and 47 STIC volumes were included in the final analysis from the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. For the evaluation of cardiac structures, good or excellent intra- and interobserver agreement (kappa > 0.6) was obtained in 12/14 and 9/14, respectively, while absolute agreement was > 90% for most structures evaluated. Regarding the quantitative cardiac measurements, ICC values were above 0.90 for all but cardiac axis (intraobserver ICC, 0.81 and interobserver ICC, 0.61). There were no significant differences in the repeatability values observed for qualitative or quantitative parameters among the trimesters of pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac examination from 4D-STIC volumes showed a high repeatability between and within observers in each trimester of pregnancy.
Bennasar
M
M
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department, Institut Clínic de Ginecologia, Obstetrícia I Neonatologia (ICGON), Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Martínez
J M
JM
Gómez
O
O
Figueras
F
F
Olivella
A
A
Puerto
B
B
Gratacós
E
E
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019561:Echocardiography, Four-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D015588:Observer Variation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*