Measurement of amniochorionic membrane thickness using high-frequency ultrasound.
Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) accounts for approximately 30 per cent of all preterm deliveries. PROM is thought to be mainly due to a decrease in membrane integrity. The aim of our investigation was to determine, post-partum after 28 normal deliveries, the thickness of the amniochorionic membrane using a 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound. The data obtained were compared with histological sections for measurement accuracy using a linear regression analysis method. The membrane thickness of the total study group was 0.83 +/- 0.11 mm (0.72-1.08 mm). Based on a statistical comparison with the histological sections, the high-frequency ultrasound examination was shown to be highly reliable, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.96 (P < 0.0001). High-frequency ultrasonographic examinations of membrane thickness are an objective and reliable method and may be a gain to prenatal diagnostics once this method can be used in vivo.
Frigo
P
P
Lang
C
C
Golaszewski
T
T
Gruber
D
D
Berger
A
A
Ulrich
R
R
Eppel
W
W
Huber
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002823:Chorion / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods