Is training sufficient for ultrasound operators to diagnose deep infiltrating endometriosis and bowel involvement by transvaginal ultrasound?

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) by trained or untrained ultrasound operators in deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) imaging, for diagnosing DIE and bowel involvement. MethodsThis was an observational study of patients with clinically suspected DIE operated in a reference center. TVUS was performed pre-operatively by a trained or/and untrained ultrasound operator to search for DIE and rectal involvement. During surgery, DIE was diagnosed according to macroscopic and histological criteria. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and c-index were calculated with 95% confidence intervals for trained and untrained operators, if TVUS results were significantly predictive of DIE and rectal involvement at p<0.05. Results115 patients were included: 100 (87%) had DIE and 34 (29.6%) had bowel involvement. TVUS was performed by a trained ultrasound operator for 70 patients and by an untrained one for 56 patients. When performed by a trained operator, TVUS significantly predicted DIE with a Se of 58% (95% CI, 46–70), a Sp of 87.5% (95% CI, 63–100) and a c-index of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.59–0.87). TVUS performed by an untrained operator was not significantly predictive of DIE (p=0.58).Rectal involvement was significantly predicted by TVUS performed by a trained operator with a Se of 40% (95% CI, 23–59), a Sp of 93% (95% CI, 86–100) and a c-index of 0.67 (95% CI, 0.56–0.77). None of the untrained ultrasound operators diagnosed a bowel involvement. ConclusionTVUS is not sufficient to diagnose DIE and bowel involvement, in particular when performed by untrained ultrasound operators.