Reliability of intraobserver and interobserver sonographic endometrial stripe thickness measurements.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the intraobserver and interobserver reliability of endometrial stripe thickness measurements in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

DESIGN

Prospective blinded study.

SETTING

Tertiary care, university hospital.

PATIENT(S): Sixty-three patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and being monitored with transvaginal ultrasound were studied.

INTERVENTION(S): None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Intraobserver and interobserver variability of endometrial stripe thickness measurements between 2 blinded observers, with 2 observations made by each observer.

RESULT(S): A statistically significant correlation was detected between the 2 measurements of each observer. The mean (+/-SD) interobserver difference between the average of the 2 measurements performed by both observers was 1.02 +/- 0.82 mm. A statistically significant correlation between the measurements of the 2 observers was detected. For both observers A and B, who used < or =6 mm as an abnormal endometrial thickness, an excellent level of agreement was detected between the 2 measurements made on each patient. When comparing the average values obtained by the 2 observers for each of the patients, an excellent level of agreement was detected.

CONCLUSION(S): There is an excellent correlation between intraobserver and interobserver measurements of endometrial stripe thickness.