title: Ultrasound evaluation of cervical shortening after loop excision of the transformation zone (LETZ).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess cervical shortening after loop excision of the transformation zone (LETZ), and confirm the validity of ultrasound measurement of cervical length.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (n = 29) were patients at the colposcopy clinic of Beth Israel Hospital who underwent vaginal ultrasound measurement of cervical length before and after LETZ. The pathologic specimen was measured by ruler. Mean cervical length (+/- S.D.), mean percentage (+/- S.D.) of cervical length removed, and correlation (r) between ultrasound and pathology specimen measurement were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (+/- S.D.) cervical length measurements prior to LETZ were 3.2 +/- 0.9 cm and after LETZ were 2.6 +/- 0.9 cm, with a difference of 0.7 +/- 0.4 cm. The pathologic specimen (mean +/- S.D.) was 0.6 +/- 0.3 cm. The correlation between ultrasound and pathology measurement was r = 0.9 (p = 0.0001). Mean (+/- S.D.) cervical length was shortened by 22 +/- 12%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is excellent correlation between ultrasound and ruler measurement of the cervix. There is significant cervical length shortening after LETZ, but further study is needed to see whether this persists or leads to pregnancy complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ricciotti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobelin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Slomovic
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ludmir
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014463:Ultrasonography; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000601:surgery*