RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Postnatal ultrasound reliability in cerebellar vermis assessment
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F307
OP F309
DO 10.1136/adc.2010.188359
VO 97
IS 4
A1 R K Armstrong
A1 L M Fox
A1 J L Y Cheong
A1 P G Davis
A1 S K Rogerson
YR 2012
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/97/4/F307.abstract
AB Background Cerebellar growth in late gestation is impeded by prematurity which may adversely affect neurocognitive development. Assessment of cerebellar growth should be easily attainable, reliable and reproducible. Objective To assess the reliability of linear sonographic cerebellar vermis measurement. Method Cranial ultrasounds of 110 infants ranging from 24 to 41 weeks' gestation were retrospectively reviewed. Cerebellar vermian height, craniocaudal diameter and superior and inferior vermis widths were independently measured on the first midline sagittal image by three neonatal sonologists of varying experience. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (2 way mixed model, SPSS V.15.0). Results 61 images were technically adequate. Interobserver ICCs (95% CI) were: cerebellar vermian height 0.88 (0.82 to 0.92); craniocaudal diameter 0.91 (0.86 to 0.94); superior vermis width 0.84 (0.77 to 0.89); inferior vermis width 0.92 (0.89 to 0.95). Intraobserver ICCs were similar. Conclusion With adequate images, linear ultrasound measurements of cerebellar vermis are reliable.