title: Stereomicroscopic demonstration of chorionic villi: differentiation between miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate direct peroperative stereomicroscopic examination of endometrial curettings in the differentiation between miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective consecutive controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-nine women with vaginal bleeding and/or abdominal pain in early pregnancy and no fetus seen on ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results of stereomicroscopy were compared with the histological diagnoses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was 90% (95% CI, 84-94%) agreement between the stereomicroscopic and histological examinations. Fifteen per cent had an ectopic pregnancy. The sensitivity of stereomicroscopy as a marker of ectopic pregnancy was 92% (73-99%), the specificity 94% (88-97%). The predictive value of a positive test was 73% (54-88%) and that of a negative test 98% (94-100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct peroperative stereomicroscopy of endometrial curettings is a valuable diagnostic tool for immediate differentiation between miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Thomsen
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000473:pathology*; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000737:chemistry*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000473:pathology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity