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Cervical length for predicting preterm birth and a comparison of ultrasonic measurement techniques
Author(s) -
O'Hara Sandra,
Zelesco Marilyn,
Sun Zhonghua
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
australasian journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2205-0140
pISSN - 1836-6864
DOI - 10.1002/j.2205-0140.2013.tb00100.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cervix , obstetrics , ultrasound , gestation , singleton , gynecology , transvaginal ultrasound , gold standard (test) , premature birth , pregnancy , radiology , cancer , genetics , biology
: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality not attributable to congenital anomalies or aneuploidy. It has been shown that a shortened cervix is a powerful indicator of preterm births in women with singleton and twin gestations – the shorter the cervical length, the higher the risk of spontaneous preterm birth. Ultrasound measurements of the cervix are a more accurate way of determining cervical length (CL) than using a digital method. Background : There are three approaches that may be used to perform ultrasound measurements of the cervix; these are the transabdominal (TA), transperineal (TP) and the transvaginal (TV) approach. The TV approach is considered to be the gold standard. In women who are considered to be at a high risk of preterm birth it is now recommended that the cervix is measured at the mid‐trimester ultrasound using the TV ultrasound approach. For women considered to be at a historical low risk the TV scan is not recommended, however it has been found that many women who deliver a preterm baby have no known risk factors. Conclusion : There is contradictory evidence in the literature with regard to the correlation between TA, TP and TV measurements. This article provides an overview of these three approaches with a focus on the clinical value for the assessment of the maternal cervix.