title: Interobserver and interdisciplinary reproducibility of 3D endovaginal ultrasound assessment of pelvic floor anatomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  the study aims were to evaluate (1) the interobserver and (2) the interdisciplinary repeatability of levator hiatus, urethral thickness, and anorectal angle measurements using three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound (3D-EVUS).
  
  
  METHODS
  twenty-seven nulliparous asymptomatic females were imaged with 3D-EVUS. Analyses were conducted off-line from stored 3D volumes by six readers (two radiologists, two urogynecologists, and two colorectal surgeons) using a standardized technique. Reproducibility was determined using the interclass correlation coefficients (ICC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  the overall interobserver repeatability for levator hiatus dimensions was good to excellent (ICC, 0.655-0.889), for urethral thickness was good (ICC, 0.624), and for anorectal angle was moderate (ICC, 0472). The interdisciplinary repeatability for levator hiatus indices was good to excellent (ICC, 0.639-0.915), for urethral thickness was moderate to good (ICC, 0.565-0.671), and for anorectal angle was fair to moderate (ICC, 0.204-0.434).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D-EVUS yields reproducible measurements of levator hiatus dimensions and urethral thickness in asymptomatic nulliparous women.
authors.affiliation: Pelvic Floor Unit, I° Department of Surgery, Regional Hospital, 31100 Treviso, Italy. giulioasantoro@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Giulio Aniello
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Andrzej Paweł
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Wieczorek
authors.forename: S Abbas
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shobeiri
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pilat
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stankiewicz
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Battistella
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014521:Urethra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014621:Vagina; D055815:Young Adult