RELIABILITY OF INTRAOBSERVER AND INTEROBSERVER SONOGRAPHIC ENDOMETRIAL STRIPE THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS

Objective: To determine the intraobserver and interobserver reliabilit y of endometrial stripe thickness measurements in women undergoing con trolled ovarian hyperstimulation. Design: Prospective blinded study. S etting: Tertiary care, university hospital. Patient(s): Sixty-three pa tients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and bring monito red with transvaginal ultrasound were studied. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Intraobserver and interobserver variability o f endometrial stripe thickness measurements between 2 blinded observer s, with 2 observations made by each observer. Result(s): A statistical ly significant correlation was detected between the 2 measurements of each observer. The mean (+/-SD) interobserver difference between the a verage of the 2 measurements performed by both observers was 1.02 +/- 0.82 mm. A statistically significant correlation between the measureme nts of the 2 observers was detected. For both observers A and B, who u sed less than or equal to 6 mm as an abnormal endometrial thickness, a n excellent level of agreement was detected between the 2 measurements made on each patient. When comparing the average values obtained by t he 2 observers for each of the patients, an excellent level of agreeme nt was detected. Conclusion(s): There is an excellent correlation betw een intraobserver and interobserver measurements of endometrial stripe thickness. (Fertil Steril(R) 1998;70:152-4. (C) 1998 by American Soci ety for Reproductive Medicine.).