The predictive value of hysterosalpingography for tubal and peritoneal infertility factors.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a practical classification system of hysterosalpingogram (HSG) results that accurately identifies patients with severe pelvic disease or a normal pelvis to allow appropriate patient counseling of therapeutic options.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review from university teaching hospital. Hysterosalpingography results were classified as normal, abnormal (bilateral distal tubal obstruction), or suspicious (all others). At surgery, chromopertubation was performed, and pelvic disease was documented.


RESULTS
From a total of 756 patients, HSGs were confirmed surgically in 96.6% of normals, 63.1% of suspicious, and 95.7% of abnormal. Associated moderate-severe pelvic disease was found in 16.2% of normals, 53.9% of suspicious, and 81.7% of abnormal.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal HSGs are highly predictive of severe pelvic disease, and counseling of treatment options does not require diagnostic laparoscopy. Patients with suspicious HSGs frequently have normal tubes but also have a significant likelihood of tubal or associated pelvic disease, and they are responsible for the poor predictive value of the HSG. This group of patients requires confirmatory laparoscopy preferably by a physician qualified in pelviscopic surgery. Normal HSGs have a high negative predictive value. Nevertheless, the incidence of associated pelvic disease in the normal HSG group is high enough to warrant diagnostic laparoscopy if nonsurgical treatment is unsuccessful.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland 20889-5000.
M S
MS
Opsahl
B
B
Miller
T A
TA
Klein
D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies