Evaluation of the performance of hysterosalpingo contrast sonography in 500 consecutive, unselected, infertile women.
The performance of hysterosalpingo contrast sonography (Hy Co Sy) as a first-line, outpatient investigation of tubal patency was examined in 500 consecutive, infertile women, at one centre. Hy Co Sy was completed in 463 (92.6%) cases, using a galactose microbubble contrast agent (Echovist-200) and transvaginal sonography. Initial plain scanning identified adnexal pathology in 198 women (39.6%). Examination with Echovist was attempted for 905 tubes and only 67 (7.4%) were not assessable; after the first 100 women this decreased to 35 tubes (4.8%). A sonographic appearance compatible with blocked tubes was found on 118 (14.1%) occasions but it was also possible to identify variations in the appearance/filling/spilling patterns of individual tubes which increased the number assessed as abnormal to 193 (23.0%). Comparison with laparoscopy and dye chromopertubation findings from the past three years was possible for 185 (37%) women, representing 282 tubes, which gave Hy Co Sy an overall concordance rate of 85.8%, sensitivity of 90.4%, specificity of 70.3%, positive predictive value of 91.2% and negative predictive value of 68.2%. Some 51.0% of women described only mild discomfort and there were no significant postprocedure complications. Hy Co Sy appears to be an acceptable first-line screen and may select out women in whom more invasive investigations are likely to reveal pathology.
The Fertility Centre, Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, St Bartholomew's Hospital, UK.
J A
JA
Hamilton
A J
AJ
Larson
A M
AM
Lower
S
S
Hasnain
J G
JG
Grudzinskas
D000328:Adult; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology