title: The clinical utility of sonographic cervical length in the management of preterm parturition at 28-32 weeks of gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of cervical length measurement in early third trimester (28-32 weeks) as a predictor of preterm delivery (PTD), in women presenting with preterm parturition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervical length was measured prospectively, in singleton pregnancies at 28-32 weeks with preterm contractions (PTC). A multivariate linear regression model was performed to assess the association between cervical length and gestational age at delivery. Logistic regression analysis with PTD before 34 and 37 weeks of gestation as the outcome variable was performed to control for confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six women were included, mean gestational week at presentation and at delivery were 29.88 ± 1.13 and 37.05 ± 2.86, respectively. There was a direct association between short cervical length at admission and gestational week at delivery (p = 0.027). This association remained significant even after controlling for confounders. Short cervical length was significantly associated with PTD before 34 (p = 0.045) or 37 (p = 0.046) weeks of gestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Third trimester cervical length measurement in patients with PTC is associated with gestational week at delivery, as well as PTD prior to 34 and 37 weeks of gestation. Therefore, examining cervical length is clinically valuable and probably cost-effective during early third trimester.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Neta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benshalom-Tirosh
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tirosh
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Barak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aricha-Tamir
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Adi Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Weintraub
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Offer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erez
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazor
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Reli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hershkovitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054791:Cervical Length Measurement; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Cervical length; preterm delivery; preterm labor; third trimester; transvaginal ultrasound