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Ectopic pregnancy: transvaginal sonographic findings of 152 cases
Author(s) -
Ekici E.,
Yapar E. G.,
Gökmen O.,
Danişman N.,
Özmen S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1993.03040271.x
Subject(s) - gestational sac , ectopic pregnancy , medicine , yolk sac , obstetrics , gynecology , pregnancy , embryo , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
In a retrospective study performed on 152 cases of verified ectopic pregnancy, the features at transvaginal sonography were evaluated. A total of 146 (96%) of the patients had at least one abnormal sonographic feature and pelvic/cul‐de‐sac fluid was the most common finding, detected in all of the 146 patients. Pelvic/cul‐de‐sac fluid was particulate in 103 patients and simple in 43. Pelvic/cul‐de‐sac fluid together with extrauterine findings were found to be present in 93.8% (137/146) of the patients, suggesting the fact that if pelvic/cul‐de‐sac fluid was detected, every effort should be made to image the tube. The extrauterine transvaginal sonographic features included 102 (63.0%) patients with a mass, 60 (41.1%) with a gestational sac (with or without yolk sac or embryo), and eight (5.3%) with a living embryo. Comparison of the sonographic findings according to the status of the ectopic pregnancy revealed that particulate fluid (98.9%), and an extra‐uterine mass (88.2%) were the features that aided in the diagnosis of ruptured and aborted ectopic pregnancies, whereas an extrauterine gestational sac (72.9%), and a living embryo (11.9%) were associated with intact ectopic pregnancies. Our findings support the practice of using transvaginal sonography, and ß‐human chorionic gonadotropin measurements in the diagnosis and prediction of the status of ectopic pregnancy. Copyright © 1993 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology