Interobserver and intraobserver variability of measurements of uveal melanomas using standardised echography

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 86; no. 12; pp. 1390 - 1394
• Main Authors: Haritoglou, C, Neubauer, A S, Herzum, H, Freeman, W R, Mueller, A J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01-12-2002; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; Copyright 2002 British Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Science; Diagnosis; echography; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Melanoma; Melanoma - diagnostic imaging; Melanoma - pathology; Middle Aged; Morphology; observer variability; Observer Variation; Ophthalmology; Patients; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Studies; Topography; Tumors; Tumors and pseudotumors of the eye, orbit, eyelid, lacrimal apparatus; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography; uveal melanomas; Uveal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Uveal Neoplasms - pathology; Sonography; Human; Measurement; B scan; Variability; Uvea disease; Malignant tumor; Eye; Eye disease; Intraindividual comparison; Uvea; Interindividual comparison; Echography; Malignant melanoma; A scan
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.86.12.1390

Aim: To report on the intraindividual and interindividual variability of tumour size (height and base diameter) measurements using standardised echography in a masked prospective study. Methods: 20 consecutive eyes of 20 patients were examined on four different visits by three experienced examiners using standardised echography. As common in standardised echography, tumour height was evaluated with A-scan technique, while transverse and longitudinal base diameter were calculated with B-scan. Results: Tumour height measurements using A-scan were more accurate than base diameter measurements using B-scan. The standard deviation for tumour height over all visits/measurements was 0.18 mm (A-scan), 0.79 mm for transverse, and 0.69 mm for longitudinal base diameters (B-scan). The interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was much higher for tumour height measurements with A-scan (0.7735 for three examiners on one visit) than for transverse (0.6563) or longitudinal (0.4522) base diameter measurements with B-scan techniques. Conclusions: A-scan techniques for tumour height measurements provide very reproducible results with little intraindividual and interobserver variability. As B-scan techniques for tumour base evaluation are less accurate they should be used for topographic and morphological examinations.