title: Prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery from endocervical length at 11 to 13 weeks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the potential value of endocervical length at 11 to 13 weeks' gestation in the prediction of spontaneous early delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The lengths of the endocervix and cervico-isthmic complex were measured by transvaginal ultrasound at 11 to 13 weeks in singleton pregnancies, including 1492 that subsequently delivered after 34 weeks and 16 (1.1%) who had spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks. In 1320 of the cases, the measurements were repeated at 20 to 24 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant associations in the length of the endocervix and cervico-isthmic complex between 11 to 13 and 20 to 24 weeks (r = 0.548, p < 0.0001 and r = 0.194, p < 0.0001), and the respective median lengths were 32.4 and 32.2 mm for the endocervix and 45.3 and 40.4 mm for the cervico-isthmic complex. At 11 to 13 weeks in the early delivery group, compared to unaffected pregnancies, the median endocervical length was shorter (27.5 vs 32.5 mm, p < 0.0001), but there was no significant difference in the length of the cervico-isthmic complex (41.4 vs 45.4 mm, p = 0.054).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the measurement of cervical length, the endocervix should be distinguished from the isthmus. The endocervical length at 11 to 13 weeks is shorter in pregnancies resulting in spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks than in those delivering after 34 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fetal Medicine, University College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Annabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ushakov
authors.forename: Jesus Rodriguez
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Kypros H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal