The role of transvaginal ultrasonography and colour Doppler imaging in the detection of ectopic pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the use of transvaginal ultrasound and colour Doppler imaging in the detection of ectopic pregnancy.


METHODS
Seventy-one patients with suspected ectopic pregnancies had transvaginal sonography and colour Doppler imaging performed and 61 ectopic pregnancies were confirmed at surgery. Various ultrasound features on transvaginal B mode scanning were noted and the resistance index of peritrophoblastic flow in the adnexal masses computed.


RESULTS
The use of transvaginal B mode imaging alone in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy achieved a sensitivity of 98% and a positive predictive value of 86%. The mean gestational age at time of diagnosis was 6 weeks 5 days (range 4 weeks to 13 weeks 2 days). The use of transvaginal colour flow imaging did not increase detection rates of ectopic pregnancy. The mean RI values for patients with or without ectopic pregnancy were almost identical.


CONCLUSIONS
Colour Doppler imaging failed to improve on the results of transvaginal B mode sonography in the detection of ectopic pregnancy.
Chew
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Anandakumar
C
C
Vanaja
K
K
Wong
Y C
YC
Chia
D
D
Ratnam
S S
SS
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014621:Vagina
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin