Automated assessment of ovarian follicles using a novel three-dimensional ultrasound software
Received 11 April 2008; received in revised form 5 August 2008; accepted 20 August 2008. published online 20 October 2008.
Objective
To evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, and applicability of a new automated method of follicular assessment.
Design
Retrospective review of three-dimensional ultrasonographic ovarian volumes.
Setting
Academic center.
Patient(s)
Three-dimensional ovarian volumes from patients undergoing IVF.
Intervention(s)
Three-dimensional volumes of gonadotropin-stimulated ovaries and simulated ovarian follicles (SOFs) of known volume were evaluated with the new automated follicular assessment software (SonoAVC).
Main Outcome Measure(s)
[1] Maximum absolute error for the SonoAVC in assessing the volumes of the SOFs; [2] correlations between the automated and manual follicular measurements; [3] time required to analyze all of the follicles in a given ovarian volume.
Result(s)
The SOF of 4, 6, and 10 mm were evaluated. The SonoAVC's maximum absolute error for the volumes of the 4, 6, and 10 mm SOFs was 0 (0%), 0.01 (8.3%), and 0.02 (3.8%) cc, respectively. Three hundred forty-seven follicles, ranging in diameter from 2.3–32 mm, were evaluated. The correlation coefficient for the SonoAVC-generated relaxed follicular diameter and the manual measured mean follicular diameter was 0.99. The time required to analyze all of the follicles in a given ovarian volume for the automated and manual method was 133 versus 361 seconds, respectively.
Conclusion(s)
The SonoAVC proved to be a very accurate and efficient way to measure ovarian follicles. The measurements obtained by the SonoAVC correlated extremely well with the manual measurements we obtained.
Reprint requests: Todd Deutch, M.D., 3009 North Ballas Road, Suite 258C, Saint Louis, MO 63131 (FAX: 847-662-3001).
T.D.D. is a consultant for GE Medical Systems. I.J. is employed by GE Medical Systems/Kretz Ultrasound. D.O.M. has nothing to disclose. S.O. has nothing to disclose. S.B. has nothing to disclose. D.H. has nothing to disclose. A.A. GE has provided ultrasound equipment and software to Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Some of this equipment and software was used in this study. Eastern Virginia Medical School also has a licensing agreement with GE for Sono-VCAD.
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