title: Endometrial stripe thickness as a predictor of ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the potential utility of endometrial stripe thickness in predicting pregnancy outcome in women with an hCG less than a discriminatory zone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  University emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who presented with symptomatic early pregnancies after a spontaneous conception with an hCG level less than a discriminatory zone evaluated to rule out an ectopic pregnancy (EP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Measure endometrial stripe thickness by transvaginal ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initial endometrial stripe thickness was correlated to eventual pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean initial endometrial stripe thickness of patients eventually diagnosed with an intrauterine pregnancy (13.42 +/- 0.68 mm), spontaneous abortion (9.28 +/- 0.88 mm), and an EP (5.95 +/- 0.35 mm) were all statistically different from each other. Ninety-seven percent of pregnancies found to have an endometrial stripe thickness < or = 8 mm were abnormal (EP or spontaneous abortion).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggest a role of the evaluation of the endometrial stripe thickness in the detection of abnormal pregnancies in patients presenting for evaluation of a symptomatic early pregnancy with an hCG below a discriminatory zone. Initial endometrial stripe thickness measured in patients with an EP is significantly thinner than in those with an intrauterine pregnancy.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA.
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Spandorfer
authors: K T
authors: KT
authors: Barnhart
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin