title: Spectrum of normal intrauterine cavity sonographic findings after first-trimester abortion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the sonographic appearance of the uterine cavity after uncomplicated first-trimester abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who underwent uterine evacuation for first-trimester abortion were referred for endovaginal sonographic examination within the week after the procedure. Special attention was directed to characterizing the intrauterine cavity. Demographic and clinical parameters were collected. A repeated postmenstrual examination was carried out in selected cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 57, 10, and 7 sonographic examinations were performed after termination of pregnancy, incomplete (spontaneous) abortion, and missed abortion, respectively. Fifty-seven (77%) of the 74 examinations showed considerable amounts of intrauterine content with various echogenicities (anteroposterior thickness range, 7-61 mm). No association could be documented between the pattern of appearance and gravidity, parity, gestational age, or type of abortion procedure. All postmenstrual reevaluations of patients with excessive amounts of intrauterine material at the initial examination (n = 7) showed empty intrauterine cavities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the week after first-trimester abortion, the uterine cavity is seldom empty. Thick heterogeneous material is an expected finding after examination. By being familiar with this normal range of appearances, clinicians can avoid unnecessary repeated invasive evacuation procedures. A follow-up sonographic evaluation during the follicular phase of the next menstrual cycle is recommended to confirm the absence of retained products of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bar-Hava
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aschkenazi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orvieto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shalev
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dicker
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben-Rafael
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dekel
mesh_terms: D000029:Abortion, Legal; D000030:Abortion, Missed; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*