Diagnosis of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy at 5-7 postmenstrual weeks.
OBJECTIVE
The potential of the combined use of vaginosonography and serum beta-hCG levels for early diagnosis of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies (5-7 weeks postmenstrual) was investigated in a multicentric study.


METHODS
Three hundred and forty-nine patients underwent vaginosonographic examination and determination of serum beta-hCG. When the first examination failed in establishing a precise diagnosis, repeat examinations were performed on alternate days.


RESULTS
During the first 3 weeks after the missed menses, vaginosonography can detect practically all viable intrauterine pregnancies, half of the nonviable intrauterine and viable ectopic pregnancies, and one quarter of nonviable ectopic pregnancies, respectively. It was not possible to differentiate intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies by serum beta-hCG levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaginosonographic screening, ideally at 2 weeks after the missed menses, permits detection, localization, and dating in 80%-90% of suspected pregnancies.
Popp
L W
LW
Clinic Dr. Guth, Juergensallee, Hamburg, Germany.
Colditz
A
A
Gaetje
R
R
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments