Reviewer's report
Title:A pilot study of transrectal endoscopic ultrasound elastography in
inflammatory bowel disease
Version: 1Date:29 June 2011
Reviewer: M J Solomon
Reviewer's report:
This is an interesting and novel concept to determine UC versus Crohn's utilising
endoscopic ultrasound characteristics. I have some major points that need
clarifying. The use of the terms "elastic" and "strain" require some jsutification as
it really is only based on width dimesnions and these terms imply a dynamic
phsical testing which no matter your references and explanations still does not
clarify these measures. The use of endoscopic ultrasound versus transrectal
ultrasound are very different modalities and are used in the mansucript almost
synonymously which is incorrect. The use of a linear probe for transrectal
ultraousnd assessment went out of vogue in the early 1990's and most utilise at
the cutting edge #D TRUS with 10-16 mHz rotating radial probes. It concerns me
if your tchnology is so out of date and your terminology confusing that the
methods are not reproducible nor validated?
An initial article in 1995 has already discussed anorectal wall thinckness in
Crohn's disease and normal as well as pouches post UC resection and needs
referencing as the concept is not novel (Anal wall thickness under normal and
inflammtory conditions of the anorectum as determine by endorectal
ultrasonography. Am J Gastro 1995:90;574-8. There have been several
therapeutic studies since then in the colorectal literature using TRUS measures
of anal wall thickness to assess medial and surgical repsonse in Crohn's using
these measures as well as acitvity of Crohn's?
Minor points
Not sure these are real words "therapeutical" page 1 "Pathohistologic" (intro)
The assessment of new diagnsotic technology requires systematic assessment
of accuracy (compared to a validated gold standard), reliability and validity. This
paper is quite clumsy scientifically and does not follow any epidemiological
methodology that is reproducible although of some interest clinically.
Reviewer's report
Title:A pilot study of transrectal endoscopic ultrasound elastography in
inflammatory bowel disease
Version: 1Date:29 June 2011
Reviewer: M J Solomon
Reviewer's report:
This is an interesting and novel concept to determine UC versus Crohn's utilising
endoscopic ultrasound characteristics. I have some major points that need
clarifying. The use of the terms "elastic" and "strain" require some jsutification as
it really is only based on width dimesnions and these terms imply a dynamic
phsical testing which no matter your references and explanations still does not
clarify these measures. The use of endoscopic ultrasound versus transrectal
ultrasound are very different modalities and are used in the mansucript almost
synonymously which is incorrect. The use of a linear probe for transrectal
ultraousnd assessment went out of vogue in the early 1990's and most utilise at
the cutting edge #D TRUS with 10-16 mHz rotating radial probes. It concerns me
if your tchnology is so out of date and your terminology confusing that the
methods are not reproducible nor validated?
An initial article in 1995 has already discussed anorectal wall thinckness in
Crohn's disease and normal as well as pouches post UC resection and needs
referencing as the concept is not novel (Anal wall thickness under normal and
inflammtory conditions of the anorectum as determine by endorectal
ultrasonography. Am J Gastro 1995:90;574-8. There have been several
therapeutic studies since then in the colorectal literature using TRUS measures
of anal wall thickness to assess medial and surgical repsonse in Crohn's using
these measures as well as acitvity of Crohn's?
Minor points
Not sure these are real words "therapeutical" page 1 "Pathohistologic" (intro)
The assessment of new diagnsotic technology requires systematic assessment
of accuracy (compared to a validated gold standard), reliability and validity. This
paper is quite clumsy scientifically and does not follow any epidemiological
methodology that is reproducible although of some interest clinically.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:A pilot study of transrectal endoscopic ultrasound elastography in
inflammatory bowel disease
Version: 1Date:29 June 2011
Reviewer: M J Solomon
Reviewer's report:
This is an interesting and novel concept to determine UC versus Crohn's utilising
endoscopic ultrasound characteristics. I have some major points that need
clarifying. The use of the terms "elastic" and "strain" require some jsutification as
it really is only based on width dimesnions and these terms imply a dynamic
phsical testing which no matter your references and explanations still does not
clarify these measures. The use of endoscopic ultrasound versus transrectal
ultrasound are very different modalities and are used in the mansucript almost
synonymously which is incorrect. The use of a linear probe for transrectal
ultraousnd assessment went out of vogue in the early 1990's and most utilise at
the cutting edge #D TRUS with 10-16 mHz rotating radial probes. It concerns me
if your tchnology is so out of date and your terminology confusing that the
methods are not reproducible nor validated?
An initial article in 1995 has already discussed anorectal wall thinckness in
Crohn's disease and normal as well as pouches post UC resection and needs
referencing as the concept is not novel (Anal wall thickness under normal and
inflammtory conditions of the anorectum as determine by endorectal
ultrasonography. Am J Gastro 1995:90;574-8. There have been several
therapeutic studies since then in the colorectal literature using TRUS measures
of anal wall thickness to assess medial and surgical repsonse in Crohn's using
these measures as well as acitvity of Crohn's?
Minor points
Not sure these are real words "therapeutical" page 1 "Pathohistologic" (intro)
The assessment of new diagnsotic technology requires systematic assessment
of accuracy (compared to a validated gold standard), reliability and validity. This
paper is quite clumsy scientifically and does not follow any epidemiological
methodology that is reproducible although of some interest clinically.
assistant