Validation of an automatic method for reconstruction, delineation, and measurement of levator hiatus in clinical practice

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the concordance between an automatic software program and manual evaluation in reconstructing, delineating, and measuring the levator hiatus (LH) on maximal Valsalva maneuver.MethodsThis was a retrospective study analyzing archived raw ultrasound imaging data of 100 patients underwent transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) examination. Each data were assessed by the automatic Smart Pelvic System software program and manual evaluation. The Dice similarity index (DSI), mean absolute distance (MAD), and Hausdorff distance (HDD) were calculated to quantify delineation accuracy of LH. Agreement between automatic and manual measurement of levator hiatus area was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland–Altman method.ResultsThe satisfaction rate of automatic reconstruction was 94%. Six images were recognized as unsatisfactory reconstructed images for some gas in the rectum and anal canal. Compared with satisfactory reconstructed images, DSI of unsatisfactory reconstructed images was lower, MAD and HDD were larger (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.006, respectively). The ICC was up to 0.987 in 94 satisfactory reconstructed images.ConclusionsThe Smart Pelvic System software program had good performance in reconstruction, delineation, and measurement of LH on maximal Valsalva maneuver in clinical practice, despite misidentification of the border of posterior aspect of LH due to the influence of gas in the rectum.