Sobolewski Eric J, Wein Leah D, Crow Jacquelyn M, Carpenter Kaitlyn M
Molnar Human Performance Lab, Furman University, Greenville SC, USA.
J Ultrason. 2021;21(84):7-11. doi: 10.15557/JoU.2021.0002. Epub 2021 Mar 8.
The use of ultrasound images for analyzing muscle quality and size is continuing to grow in the literature. However, many of these manuscripts fail to properly describe their measurement techniques and steps involved in analyzing ultrasound images. To evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the steps involved when analyzing ultrasound images to measure cross-sectional area and echo intensity. Twenty ultrasound images of the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis images were blinded and replicated, and then analyzed by experienced raters. The raters then were asked to analyze the images using open-source software for scaling measurements, subcutaneous fat thickness, cross-sectional area, and echo intensity. Matched image values for each measurement where compared for intra- and inter-rater reliability. Intra-rater reliability ranged from fair (ICC = 0.32) to high (0.98), with echo intensity values being the least reliable (>0.55), and scaling and depth measurements being the most reliable (<0.85). Inter-rater reliability ranged from good (0.77) to high (0.97). Conclusion: Ultrasound-derived measures of cross-sectional area and echo intensity can be measured reliably, with echo intensity being the most difficult to replicate. However, reliability measures are unique to the rater and study and, therefore, should be clearly reported in every paper.
在文献中，使用超声图像分析肌肉质量和大小的情况越来越多。然而，许多此类稿件未能正确描述其测量技术以及分析超声图像所涉及的步骤。为了评估分析超声图像以测量横截面积和回声强度时所涉及步骤的评分者内和评分者间可靠性。选取了20张股直肌和股外侧肌的超声图像进行盲法复制，然后由经验丰富的评分者进行分析。评分者随后被要求使用开源软件分析图像，以进行缩放测量、皮下脂肪厚度、横截面积和回声强度的测量。对每个测量的匹配图像值进行评分者内和评分者间可靠性比较。评分者内可靠性范围从中等（ICC = 0.32）到高（0.98），其中回声强度值最不可靠（>0.55），缩放和深度测量最可靠（<0.85）。评分者间可靠性范围从良好（0.77）到高（0.97）。结论：超声测量的横截面积和回声强度可以可靠地测量，其中回声强度最难复制。然而，可靠性测量因评分者和研究而异，因此，每篇论文都应清楚地报告。
