Reproducibility of Renal Volume Measurement in Adults Using 3‐Dimensional Sonography

• Published in: Journal of ultrasound in medicine 2014-03, Vol.33 (3), p.431-435
• Main Authors: de Amorim Paiva, Camila Caroline, de Mello Junior, Carlos Fernando, Guimarães Filho, Helio Antonio, de Brito Gomes, Camila Albuquerque, Junior, Lusimário Rodrigues Silva, Junior, Gilberto Moura Brito, Paiva, Cláudio Sérgio Medeiros
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-dimensional imaging; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; genitourinary ultrasound; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; kidney; Kidney - diagnostic imaging; Kidney - physiology; Male; Middle Aged; Observer Variation; Organ Size - physiology; organ volume; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; sonography; Ultrasonography - methods; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0278-4297; 1550-9613
• DOI: 10.7863/ultra.33.3.431

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the interobserver reproducibility of renal volume measurement performed by 3‐dimensional (3D) sonography. Methods We conducted an exploratory, quantitative, observational, and descriptive cross‐sectional study. We calculated ranges, means, and standard deviations of the renal volumes obtained with 3D sonography by 2 different examiners from a sample of 30 patients. The interobserver reproducibility was assessed by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and by construction of Bland‐Altman plots. Results The ICC between the right 3D renal volumes obtained by examiners 1 and 2 was 0.8552 (95% confidence interval, 0.7153–0.9292), showing excellent reproducibility (P < .0001). For the left 3D renal volumes obtained by examiners 1 and 2, the ICC was 0.6411 (95% confidence interval, 0.3652–0.8135), showing average to good reproducibility (P = .0001). The Bland‐Altman plots showed mean differences ± SD of −4.8% ± 23.9% between the right renal volumes obtained by examiners 1 and 2 and −2.2% ± 38% between the left renal volumes. The 95% limits of agreement between the right renal volumes obtained by examiners 1 and 2 were −28.7% to 19%, whereas those between the left renal volumes were −40.2% to 35.7%. Conclusions Three‐dimensional sonography showed good interobserver reproducibility, which was better for the right kidney. It appears necessary to establish standardized techniques for acquisition of sonographic renal volumes.