三维超声容积自动测量(VOCAL)技术与二维超声测量甲状腺体积的对比研究

Objective To evaluate and compare the consistency and repeatability of three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) technique and two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US) in the measurement of thyroid volume. Methods The thyroid volume of 50 healthy female adults aged 18 to 68 years were measured by 2D-US and 3D-US. The 2D-US was used to measure the three diameter lines (L, H, W) of the largest thyroid section, and the thyroid volume was calculated by the classical ellipsoid formula V=0.523×L×H×W. The 3D-US VOCAL technique was used to acquire the thyroid three-dimensional data, and VOCAL software was used to measure the thyroid volume. The two methods of measurement were also compared and analyzed. Results The coefficient of variation in the intra-as say was 0.738% and 1.59% respectively for the 3D-US VOCAL technology and traditional 2D-US measurement of thyroid volume, and the 95% limit of agreement in the intra-assay was (-0.26 cm³, 0.22 cm³) and (-0.32 cm³, 0.46 cm³). In addition, the correlation coefficient in the inter-assay were 0.970^xx and 0.942^xx, and the 95% limit of agreement were (-0.36 cm³, 0.37 cm³) and (-0.75 cm³, 0.64 cm³). To compare the two methods of measuring thyroid volume, the 3D-US VOCAL had a lower variation coefficient in the intra-assay, a higher correlation coefficient in the inter-ass ay and a narrower 95% limit of agreement, which showed that the repeatability of the 3D-US VOCAL technique measuring was better than the traditional 2D-US in measuring thyroid volume. Conclusions The 3D-US VOCAL technique shows a higher repeatability in measuring thyroid than traditional 2D-US. As a safe, simple and feasible precise measurement method, it provides a reliable and effective new method for clinical measurement of irregular organ volume.