Automated Three-dimensional Ultrasound Bridges the Gap Between Novices and Experts in Diameter Assessment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Managing abdominal aortic aneurysms currently relies on diameter assessment with ultrasound. Diameter reproducibility with two-dimensional ultrasound is challenging, and requires experienced operators. A novel automatic three-dimensional ultrasound system has the potential to facilitate more precise diameter measurements than two-dimensional ultrasound. This study aimed to assess the variance of abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter measurements among ultrasound novices and experts by comparing two-dimensional ultrasound with the three-dimensional ultrasound system in a clinical setting.

Ten patients under abdominal aortic aneurysm surveillance were examined by 29 ultrasound-operators: 13 experts and 16 novices. The experts were sonographers and physicians highly experienced in abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound, and the novices were medical students and junior residents with sparse ultrasound experience.