International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) terminology in women with postmenopausal bleeding and sonographic endometrial thickness ≥ 4.5 mm: agreement and reliability study

What is it about?

The International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) group suggested that a standardized examination technique should be used when examining the endometrium with ultrasound, and that a common terminology should be applied when describing the ultrasound findings. A consensus statement by the IETA group was published in 2010. Before introducing the use of the suggested terminology into clinical practice or using it in scientific studies, it is essential to know to what extent descriptions of ultrasound images of the endometrium using this terminology are reproducible. In this study we estimated intra- and inter-rater agreement and reliability with regard to describing gray scale and color Doppler ultrasound images of the endometrium using the IETA terminology. Agreement and reliability when using IETA terminology was limited. This may have implications when assessing the association between a particular ultrasound feature and a specific histological diagnosis, because lack of reproducibility reduces the relationship of a feature with the outcome. Future studies should investigate if using fewer variable categories or offering practical training could improve agreement and reliability.

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