title: Technology assessment of saline contrast hysterosonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to evaluate to which extent saline contrast hysterosonography (SCHS) is able to replace diagnostic hysteroscopy in uterine cavity evaluation in women suspected of intrauterine abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective observational study we performed SCHS instead of diagnostic hysteroscopy. Diagnostic hysteroscopy was performed in case of failed or inconclusive SCHS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess subgroups for their risk of failure and inconclusiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred fourteen women were included consecutively. SCHS was conclusive in 180 cases (84.1%), failed in 12 (5.6%), and inconclusive in 22 (10.3%). Uterine size above 600 cm(3) was the best predictor of failure and/or inconclusiveness (positive predictive value 0.42).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SCHS was able to replace 84% of the outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopies in uterine cavity evaluation in women suspected of intrauterine abnormalities. Our study showed that diagnostic hysteroscopy can be restricted to inconclusive or failed SCHS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelis D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: de Kroon
authors.forename: Frank Willem
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Leoni A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Louwé
authors.forename: Sandra W M
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Dieben
authors.forename: Hans C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: van Houwelingen
authors.forename: J Baptist
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Trimbos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D012965:Sodium Chloride