title: Objective cervical portio length measurements: consistency and efficacy of screening for a short cervix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the consistency of 4-quadrant cervical portio length measurements with an objective cervical measuring device and to identify patients who may benefit from transvaginal ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prenatal patients (12-34 weeks) derwent 4-quadrant cervical portio measurements and transvaginal ultrasound by different, blinded examiners. Cervical portio quadrant measures were analyzed by correlation analysis, and the predictive ability of cervical portio length measurements to identify short cervices with transvaginal ultrasound was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The right and left lateral cervical portio measurements were consistently available and correlated highly with each other. Cervical portio length had excellent sensitivity (88%), specificity (92%) and negative predictive value (99%) in identifying patients with a short cervix (< 30 mm) by transvaginal ultrasound.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Right and left lateral cervical portio length measurements are highly consistent and provide an effective screen for patients with short cervixes who may benefit from transvaginal ultrasound.
authors.affiliation: San Diego Perinatal Center and Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women, San Diego, California, USA. mikeross@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cousins
authors.forename: Rosalyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baxter-Jones
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bemis-Heys
authors.forename: Valerian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Catanzarite
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dowling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal