Quantitative sonoelastography of the uterine cervix prior to induction of labor as a predictor of cervical dilation time.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate how the approximate Young's modulus of the uterine cervix assessed by quantitative sonoelastography in patients undergoing induction of labor is associated with the cervical dilation time and to evaluate the approximate Young's modulus as a predictor of prolonged cervical dilation time.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.


METHODS
Term-pregnant women.


METHODS
A total of 49 term-pregnant women were included before induction of labor. The approximate Young's modulus of the anterior cervical lip was determined by the use of a reference cap applied on the end of the transvaginal transducer during sonoelastography.


METHODS
Cervical dilation time during active labor.


RESULTS
The approximate Young's modulus was associated with the cervical dilation time during active labor (R(2) log  = 0.24, p < 0.01) and predicted prolonged duration of cervical dilation time (>330 min) with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.71, sensitivity 74%, and specificity 69%. Equivalent figures for the Bishop's score were R(2) log  = 0.02 (p = 0.37), the area under the ROC curve 0.53, sensitivity 53%, and specificity 46%. For the cervical length measurements the corresponding results were: R(2) log  = 0.02, p = 0.35, area under the ROC curve 0.57, sensitivity 66% and specificity 54%. The intra-observer and inter-observer intraclass correlations were 88% and 58%, respectively, with quantitative elastography.


CONCLUSIONS
The approximate Young's modulus is superior to the Bishop score and the cervical length measurements concerning the prediction of cervical dilation time and the risk of prolonged dilation time after induction of labor.
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Lene
L
Hee
Christina K
CK
Rasmussen
Jacob M
JM
Schlütter
Puk
P
Sandager
Niels
N
Uldbjerg
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000502:physiology*; D007751:Labor, Induced; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
Cervical assessment; biomechanics; delivery; elastography; labor; uterine cervix