Validation of a built-in software in automatically reconstructing the tomographic images of the levator ani muscle

Transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) is an effective tool for evaluating the integrity of the levator ani muscle (LAM). Several operating steps are required to obtain the standard multi-slice image of the LAM, which is experience dependent and time consuming. This study was aimed at evaluating the feasibility and reproducibility of the built-in software, Smart-pelvic™, in reconstructing standard tomographic images of LAM from 3D/4D TPUS volumes.

This study was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital, enrolling women who underwent TPUS. Tomographic images of the LAM were automatically reconstructed by Smart-pelvic^TM and rated by two experienced observers as standard or nonstandard. The anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the levator hiatus was also measured on the mid-sagittal plane of the automatically and manually reconstructed images. The APD measurements of each approach were compared using Bland-Altman plots, and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate intra- and inter-observer reproducibility. Meanwhile, the time taken for the reconstruction process of both methods was also recorded.

The ultrasound volume of a total of 104 patients were included in this study. Using Smart-pelvic^TM, the overall success rate of the tomographic image reconstruction was 98%. Regarding measurements of APD, the ICC between the automatic and manual reconstruction methods was 0.99 (0.98, 0.99). The average time taken for reconstruction per case was 2.65 ± 0.52 s and 22.08 ± 3.45 s, respectively.

Using Smart-pelvic^TM to reconstruct tomographic images of LAM is feasible, and it can promote TPUS by reducing operator dependence and improving examination efficiency in a clinical setting.