Transvaginal sonographic assessment of the cervix and preterm labor.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to assess the accuracy of cervical measurements by transvaginal ultrasonography during the 1st and 2nd trimester in the prediction of preterm labor.


METHODS
Five hundred high-risk pregnant women in preterm labor were studied retrospectively.


RESULTS
A significantly higher percentage rate of preterm delivery was found in women with abnormal cervical length compared to those with normal cervical length (54.6% [118 of 216 women] vs 16.5% [47 of 284 women], p < 0.001). Also in women with abnormal dilatation of the internal cervical os the percentage was significantly higher compared to those with normal findings (78.7% [133 of 216 women] vs. 9.7% [32 of 284 women], p < 0.001). For women with cervical funneling the incidence of preterm delivery was significantly higher compared to the rest of the women (94.3% [33 of 35] vs 28.4% [132 of 465], p = 0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data confirm that sonographic assessment between the 9th and 12th week is the best cut-off period for predicting preterm labor.
Tsikouras
P
P
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece.
Galazios
G
G
Zalvanos
A
A
Bouzaki
A
A
Athanasiadis
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging