Volumetry measurements can be a potential clinical use as non-invasive tools in prenatal diagnosis and screening and helps to reduce the risk and complications of invasive procedures. 3DUS volumetry gives more precise results than 2DUS volumetry measurements, particularly, of irregularly shaped objects.
Conventionally volume measurements can be made by using multiplanar or VOCALTM (Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis). Recently, a new technique, XI VOCALTM (eXtended Imaging VOCAL) has been described. Combined with the inversion mode, measurements for the liquid-filled structures can also be made. The potential use in clinical diagnosis and prediction of pathologies of volume measurements particularly in the first trimester are yet to be investigated. 3D ultrasound is found to be superior to 2D parameter in volumetry measurement. However, currently, there are still very few studies done to evaluate the potential use of volumetry measurement in clinical practice, especially of the validity and reproducibility of XI VOCALTM; and the variation of results obtained within different ultrasound machines. Due to the potential use of volumetry measurements in clinical practice, the accuracy in volumetry measurement is very important and the development of new technique need to be fully explored so that its benefits can be fully used for the contribution of clinical practice. So far no research has been done to evaluate the difference in the results obtained between different ultrasound machines, in particularly for volumetry measurements. This is important because if there is no significant difference in results between difference machines, we can accumulate the results from these machines for a study, which can include a more variety of samples. Furthermore, it will be much easier to compare results of one machine with another for similar studies. Both Voluson 730 and Accuvix have been used widely in research studies on 3D volumetry but comparison of the results obtained from these two machines have not been done. We do not know whether the results generated from one machine can be extrapolated to the other machine for clinical or research purpose. Thus more research needs to be done in this area. Thus, this study is carried out to evaluate the potential use of the new modality of XI VOCALTM in the volumetry measurement of regular and irregular shaped objects, comparison of results obtained between different widely used machines, and the potential used of volumetry measurements in the prediction of common and important clinical pathologies such as αº-thalassemia.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
195
Tsan Yuk Hospital
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Objective 1:The use of XI VOCALTM in 3D volumetry measurements of fetal head and trunk of fetuses from 11 to 14 weeks gestation and known volume phantoms and its comparison with the conventional multiplanar and VOCALTM technique
The objectives of this study are to compare (1) the reproducibility of multiplanar and the VOCALTM technique for 3DUS measurement of fetal volume with the new modality XI VOCALTM, and (2) validity of these three techniques using an in-vitro setting. The hypothesis of the study are (1) the results obtained from the new modality of XI VOCALTM is interchangeable with multiplanar and VOCALTM with similar number of steps used and (2) validity between XI VOCALTM is comparable to multiplanar and VOCALTM with similar number of steps used. We hypothesized XI VOCALTM can be used interchangeably with multiplanar and VOCALTM technique if similar number of steps are used in the measurement of regular objects such as fetal head and trunk.
Time frame: 18 months
Objective 2:The use of new modality of XI VOCALTM in 3D volumetry measurements of placenta from 11 to 14 weeks gestation and known volume phantoms and its comparison with the conventional multiplanar and VOCALTM technique
The objectives of this study are to compare (1) the reproducibility of multiplanar and the VOCALTM technique for 3DUS measurement of placenta volume with the new modality XI VOCALTM, and (2) validity of these three techniques using an in-vitro setting. The hypothesis of the study are (1) the results obtained from the new modality of XI VOCALTM is interchangeable with multiplanar and VOCALTM with similar number of steps used and (2) validity between XI VOCALTM is comparable to multiplanar and VOCALTM with similar number of steps used. We hypothesized that XI VOCALTM can be used interchangeably with the other two techniques for the volumetry measurement of irregular objects such as placenta if similar number of steps is used.
Time frame: 18 months
Objective 3:The use of 3DUS in the volumetry of first trimester pregnancy and in vitro study: comparison between two models of ultrasound machine
The objective of the present study are to compare (1) the reproducibility of these two machines for fetal, gestational sac and placenta 3D volumetry using multiplanar (1-mm interval) and Virtual Organ Computer-Aided Analysis (VOCAL)TM (30º) technique and (2) validity of these two machines using an in-vitro setting. Hypothesis of the study: 3D volumetry measurement of fetal, gestational sac and placenta volume of fetuses at 11 to 14 weeks' gestation with Voluson 730 is interchangeable with the measurement using Accuvix ultrasound machine. We hypothesized that the Accuvix machine could be used interchangeably with Voluson 730 for both multiplanar and VOCALTM for fetal, gestational sac and placenta volumetry measurement.
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Time frame: 18 months
Objective 4:The use of 3DUS in the measurement of fetal, gestational sac and placenta quotient of fetuses at risk of homozygous αº-thalassemia (Hb Bart's disease) at 11 to 14 weeks' gestation
This study was carried out to evaluate the use of fetal, gestational sac and placenta volume measured by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in predicting fetal homozygous αº-thalassemia (Hb-Bart's disease). Hypothesis of the study: Measurement of 3D volume of the fetal, gestational sac and placenta quotient can be used as a useful tool as 2D parameter for the prediction of fetuses of homozygous alpha0-thalassaemia (Hb Bart's disease) at 11 to 14 weeks' gestation. We hypothesized that 3D volumetry measurement of the fetal, gestational sac and placenta quotient can serve as a useful tool as 2D parameter for the prediction of homozygous alpha0-thalassaemia (Hb Bart's disease) fetuses at 11 to 14 weeks' gestation.
Time frame: 18 months