title: Evaluation of the accuracy of transvaginal sonography for the assessment of retained products of conception after spontaneous abortion.
abstract: Transvaginal sonography (TVS) was used to assess uterine contents in 100 consecutive subjects presenting with a diagnosis of spontaneous abortion. TVS assessments were correlated with findings at subsequent evacuation of retained products of conception (ERPC). There was a strong correlation between the weight of the surgical specimen at ERPC with both the sagittal (r = 0.76; p < 0.05) and transverse (r = 0.73; p < 0.05) plane area measurements of the uterine cavity. Combining the 2 sonographic measurements increased the correlation to r = 0.81 (p < 0.05). Fifteen of 25 subjects who had been categorised to have an 'empty' uterus had less than 5 g of tissue removed and the other 10 subjects less than 10 g of tissue. In 20 of these 25 cases, the surgeon described the amount of curettings as 'small or non-significant'. TVS can accurately identify those women who do not have a significant amount of residual uterine tissue following spontaneous abortion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, NT. tonychung@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sahota
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000027:Abortion, Incomplete / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014619:Vacuum Curettage; D014621:Vagina