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The timing of a repeat ultrasound examination in the evaluation for ectopic pregnancy
Author(s) -
Kadar Nicholas,
Romero Roberto
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.1870100502
Subject(s) - medicine , ectopic pregnancy , gestational sac , ultrasound , gestation , pregnancy , obstetrics , gynecology , gestational age , radiology , genetics , biology
A method is described for timing a repeat ultrasound examination in patients evaluated for ectopic pregnancy in whom the findings are initially nondiagnostic. This method is based on measuring the serum hCG at the time of the initial ultrasound examination, which allows the time interval required for the serum hCG to exceed 6500 mIU/ml to be calculated. When the serum hCG is above this level, the gestational sac of an intrauterine pregnancy can be reliably identified, and failure to do so signifies ectopic gestation. Seven patients referred for ultrasound to rule out ectopic pregnancy had initially nondiagnostic findings. In each case, a correctly‐timed repeat examination, demonstrating a gestational sac, enabled the diagnosis to be excluded.