Facts, Views & Vision
in ObGyn

Journal of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy

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Validation of 3D power Doppler and VOCAL software in the ­sonographic assessment of hepatic venous flow

J. Claeskens1, K. Tomsin1,2, G. Molenberghs3, C. Van Holsbeke2, T. Mesens2, L. Meylaerts4, ­
W. Gyselaers1,2

1 Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
2 Department Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
3 I-BioStat, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
4 Department Medical Imaging, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.

Correspondence at: kathleen.tomsin@zol.be

Keywords:

hepatic blood flow, repeatability, reproducibility, three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound, venous hemodynamics, Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis


Published online: Apr 05 2013

Abstract

Aim: 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.