title: Validation of 3D power Doppler and VOCAL software in the sonographic assessment of hepatic venous flow.
abstract: ﻿
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reproducibility of three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography (3D-PDU) and the repeatability of Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL) software in the assessment of hepatic venous flow in ten healthy non-pregnant individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Visualization of hepatic veins was performed using both intra- and subhepatic approaches; These examinations were repeated twice. Vascular indices were obtained for each examination in a reference point using both small and large volume samples (3 times per type of volume sample). Intraclass Correlation Coefficients and Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient were calculated to assess reproducibility and repeatability, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraclass Correlation Coefficients were more than 0.60 in small volumes, but variable in large volumes for both approaches. However, re-identification of the reference point failed in 30% using the subhepatic approach. Repeatability was high for all VOCAL analyses (Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient > 0.98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate reliable use of intrahepatic small volume samples in clinical application and invite to explore the role of this technology in the assessment of hepatic venous hemodynamics.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Claeskens
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium ; Department Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomsin
authors.affiliation: I-BioStat, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molenberghs
authors.affiliation: Department Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Holsbeke
authors.affiliation: Department Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mesens
authors.affiliation: 4Department Medical Imaging, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meylaerts
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium ; Department Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gyselaers
keywords: Hepatic blood flow; Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis; repeatability; reproducibility; three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound; venous hemodynamics
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