title: Transcervical sonography: an investigational technique for visualization of the embryo.
abstract: A catheter-based, miniature ultrasound transducer, operating at a frequency of 12.5 MHz, was introduced transcervically into the uterine cavity of 18 pregnant women about to undergo first-trimester abortion. Transcervical sonography showed the yolk sac and embryonic structures, such as brain vesicles, limb buds, liver, spinal canal, and umbilical cord with blood flow, in eight embryos at 5-8 menstrual weeks of age. As an investigational technique, catheter-assisted transcervical sonography offers a new diagnostic approach to imaging of the first-trimester human embryo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles Medical Center.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ragavendra
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Beall
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bitonte
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D014159:Transducers; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*