title: Accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography for detection of hematosalpinx in ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: The transvaginal approach has significantly improved the accuracy of ultrasonography for the detection of ectopic pregnancy. However, there has been limited emphasis given to determining the sensitivity of ultrasonography when a hematosalpinx was used as a specific finding to identify an ectopic pregnancy. The sensitivity of transvaginal ultrasonography was evaluated for the detection of a hematosalpinx defined as an "echogenic homogeneous or inhomogeneous, rounded or elongated structure" in a group of patients with surgically proven ectopic pregnancy. Retrospectively, transvaginal ultrasonography showed a hematosalpinx in 16 out of 18 (88.8%) tubal pregnancies. In 6/6 (100%) patients with a ruptured tube and 10/12 (83.3%) patients with an unruptured tube, a hematosalpinx was detected sonographically. A gestational sac with a live embryo was seen in 26.3% of these patients. The significance of identifying a hematosalpinx, predictability of rupture and implication in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Montreal General Hospital, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atri
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Stempel
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bret
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014621:Vagina