Interobserver Agreement in the Study of 2D and 3D Sonographic Criteria for Adenomyosis

Abstract

Objective To study the degree of interobserver agreement for already known two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) sonography criteria of adenomyosis. Methods Fifty cases (25 adenomyosis cases, 25 non-adenomyosis cases) were studied by four expert observers and a less-experienced researcher. Each sonographic adenomyosis criterion was separately studied. Interobserver agreement was analysed by the kappa index with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The degree of agreement about diagnosing adenomyosis was high or very high in all pair-wise comparisons (kappa values of 0.58–0–92). The agreement on identifying intra-myometrial cysts (kappa values of 0.46–0.79) and evaluating the junctional zone (JZ) by 3D-transvaginal ultrasound (3D-TVS) (kappa index of 0.46–0.88) was good. The agreements reached when evaluating the other criteria varied, but good agreement was generally reached. Conclusions Both the 2D-TVS and 3D-TVS criteria employed in diagnosing adenomyosis were reproducible parameters in adenomyosis diagnostics. The results were reproducible, even by a less experienced observer.