Reproducibility of three-dimensional ultrasound endometrial volume measurements in patients with postmenopausal bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproducibility of transvaginal three-dimensional (3D) endometrial volume measurement in patients with postmenopausal bleeding and to compare the reproducibility of this technique to that of two-dimensional (2D) endometrial thickness measurement. METHODS: In a prospective, blinded study, transvaginal ultrasound examinations were performed in 51 consecutive patients with postmenopausal bleeding. Three-dimensional volume and 2D thickness measurements were made and intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of each technique were assessed. RESULTS: The intraobserver correlation of 3D endometrial volume measurement of the first observer was 0.97 and that of the second observer was 0.99. Thus, mean intraobserver correlation was 0.98. The mean interobserver correlation was 0.95 (0.95 vs. 0.96). There was no significant difference in reproducibility at different volume cut-offs. The mean intra- and interobserver correlation of endometrium volume measurements for five patients with endometrial carcinoma did not differ significantly from that for patients without carcinoma (0.98, 0.98 vs. 0.98, 0.95). The intraobserver correlation of 2D endometrial thickness measurements from the first observer was 0.71 and that from second observer 0.87. Thus, mean intraobserver correlation of the endometrial thickness measurements was 0.79. The mean interobserver correlation was 0.76 (0.84 vs. 0.70). CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial volume and thickness measurements by 3D and 2D ultrasound, respectively, show good reproducibility but the reproducibility of 3D ultrasound is better.

Vertical root fracture and relative deformation during obturation and post cementation.

There are several speculated etiologies of vertical root fractures such as pressure exerted during post placement and excessive forces during lateral condensation. However, there are no reports comparing these two forces by use of the same measurement system. This study determined and compared on single-rooted teeth (1) the amount of strain to the root that occurs during obturation and post cementation and (2) the incidence of incomplete and complete vertical root fractures occurring during the aforementioned procedures. Canals of 32 extracted maxillary central incisors were step-back prepared. Teeth were randomly divided into negative and positive controls and experimental groups. The amount of root distortion was recorded with a strain gauge during each of the following procedures: (1) lateral condensation, and (2) lateral condensation plus cementation of a cast gold post. Relative deformations were compared statistically. Teeth were examined by transillumination and stereomicroscopy for incomplete and complete fractures and compared among groups. Data showed significantly more relative deformation with placement of a post and loading than with obturation alone. The accumulation of strain from both procedures did not significantly increase incidence of vertical root fractures. The results indicate that stresses from cementation of posts is more likely to cause relative deformation of roots.