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Abstract #3476 Published in IGR 4-2
Observer experience improves reproducibility of color Doppler sonography of orbital blood vessels
Nemeth J; Kovacs R; Harkanyi Z; Knezy K; Senyi K; Marsovszky IJournal of Clinical Ultrasound 2002; 30: 332-335
PURPOSE: This study investigated the reproducibility of orbital blood flow measurements with color Doppler imaging (CDI) at different stages of observer experience. METHODS: The subjects were 31 healthy volunteers and two sequential groups of 25 glaucoma patients each. Repeated blood flow measurements (usually three sets) in orbital vessels (ophthalmic artery, short posterior ciliary arteries, central retinal artery, and central retinal vein) were performed by the same observer in a single session in each subject. RESULTS: The parameters with the best reproducibility were the resistance index (mean coefficient of variation (COV), 3.3-8.8%), the peak systolic velocity (mean COV, 6.9-13.7%), the time-averaged velocity (mean COV, 7.2-16.0%), and the systolic acceleration time (mean COV, 8.8-12.3%). The mean COV was greater (9.9-20.3%) for the other arterial flow parameters (end-diastolic velocity and systolic acceleration) and for the venous flow velocities (maximum and minimum). The COVs of the parameters were improved by 20-40% as the observer became more experienced in ophthalmic CDI. CONCLUSIONS: The authors confirm the general reliability of CDI measurements in orbital vessels and show that observer experience improves reproducibility. It appears, however, that observer performance in these measurements is vessel specific.
Dr. J. Nemeth, First Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Tomo utca 25-29, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
Classification:
6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
