title: Magnetic resonance imaging vs. transvaginal ultrasound for cervical length assessment in the second half of pregnancy.
abstract: The purpose of this cross-sectional study involving 42 women between 20 and 39 weeks gestation was to compare transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) vs. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of cervical length measurement during the second half of pregnancy and to evaluate the reproducibility of cervical measurements obtained through MRI. Cervical length was measured through TVUS by a single examiner. On the same day, all women also had MRI and cervical length was assessed by two independent blinded observers. There were no significant differences in the mean cervical length obtained through TVUS and MRI (paired t-test, p = 0.191). The Bland-Altman test indicated concordance between measurements obtained through methods as well as good intra- and interobserver reproducibility for MRI measurements. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.990 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.982 to 0.995; p < 0.001) for measurements performed using MRI by two different observers and 0.995 (95% CI: 0.991 to 0.997; p < 0.001) for measurements performed using the same method by a single operator. Cervical length measured through TVUS and MRI does not differ significantly. There is a good reproducibility of cervical measurements obtained through MRI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, São Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosieny Souza
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Claudio Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Leonardo Luiz
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Avanza
authors.forename: Rosiane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattar
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo Júnior
authors.forename: Luciano Marcondes Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nardozza
authors.forename: Antonio Fernandes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Moron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult