Ultrasonography.  2017 Jan;36(1):17-24. 10.14366/usg.16022.

Assessing the accuracy and reliability of ultrasonographic three-dimensional parathyroid volume measurement in a patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism: a comparison with the two-dimensional conventional method

• You SH
• Suh SI
• Ryoo IS
• Son GR
• Lee YH
• Seo HS
• Lee NJ
• Seol HY

• KMID: 2365572
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14366/usg.16022

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy and reliability of the semi-automated ultrasonographic volume measurement tool, virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL), for measuring the volume of parathyroid glands.
METHODS
Volume measurements for 40 parathyroid glands were performed in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by chronic renal failure. The volume of the parathyroid glands was measured twice by experienced radiologists by two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) methods using conventional sonograms and the VOCAL with 30°angle increments before parathyroidectomy. The specimen volume was also measured postoperatively. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and the absolute percentage error were used for estimating the reproducibility and accuracy of the two different methods.
RESULTS
The ICC value between two measurements of the 2D method and the 3D method was 0.956 and 0.999, respectively. The mean absolute percentage error of the 2D method and the 3D VOCAL technique was 29.56% and 5.78%, respectively. For accuracy and reliability, the plots of the 3D method showed a more compact distribution than those of the 2D method on the Bland-Altman graph.
CONCLUSION
The rotational VOCAL method for measuring the parathyroid gland is more accurate and reliable than the conventional 2D measurement. This VOCAL method could be used as a more reliable follow-up imaging modality in a patient with hyperparathyroidism.

Keyword

Imaging, three-dimensional; Parathyroid glands; Organ size; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary*
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Kidney Failure, Chronic
Methods*
Organ Size
Parathyroid Glands
Parathyroidectomy
Ultrasonography