J Korean Radiol Soc.  1990 Apr;26(2):381-388. 10.3348/jkrs.1990.26.2.381.

Ectopic pregnancy: the role of transvaginal sonography

• Jun SA
• Park YH
• Hahn WB
• Cha KY
• Cha KS

• KMID: 2358958
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1990.26.2.381

Abstract

To determine the predictability of ectopic gestation by transvaginal sonography, we have prospectively studied234 patients who were clinically suspicious of ectopic gestation. Of 234 patients, 143 had an ectopic gestation,16 had a viable intrauterine pregnancy, 19 had a nonviable intrauterine pregnancy, 16 had an ovarian cyst, 15 hada pelvic inflammatory disease and the remaining 25 did not have any pathologic lesions. Of 136 ectopic gestationwhich were corresponded to sonographic findings transvaginal sonography provided important informations i.eextrauterine gestational sac (61 cases), tad-pole appearance of hematosalpinx (49 cases), nonspecific adnexalmass(28 cases), and hypoechoic masses(3 cases). Extrauterine gestational sac showed fetal pole with definite heartbeat in 14 cases, fetal pole without heart beat in 8 cases and yolk sac without featl pole in 15 cases. Follow-uptransvaginal sonography performed 5 days after the initial sonogarphy provided additional information, that is,newly developed extrauterine gestational sac (7 cases), hematosalpinx (4 cases), fetal heart beat (2 cases), andthe yolk sac (1 case). Interval growth of the extrauterine gestational sac (3 cases) and of the hematosal pinx (5cases) were noted on the follow up study. In all cases, patients accepted well with the procedure of transvaginalsonography without any complaint. The application of the transvaginal sonography as an initial screening test forthe evaluation of extopic gestation had an excellent diagnostic predictability with sensitivity 95.1%, specificity78%, positive predictive value 87.1% and negative predictive value 91%.

MeSH Terms

Female
Fetal Heart
Follow-Up Studies
Gestational Sac
Heart
Humans
Mass Screening
Ovarian Cysts
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Ectopic*
Prospective Studies
Ultrasonography
Yolk Sac