title: Prediction of Preterm Delivery by Late Cervical Length Measurement after 24 Weeks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the value of the cervical length (CL) measurement at 24-30 gestational weeks in the prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery (SPD) between 30 and 34 weeks (SPD34) and between 34 and 37 weeks (SPD37).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a prospective cross-sectional study. CL was measured once by transvaginal ultrasound examination between 24 and 30 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample consisted of 1,180 low-risk singleton pregnancies. 10 women (0.85%) had a SPD34 and 60 (5.08%) had a SPD37. CL was shorter (p < 0.001) in the women who had a SPD34 (median 11 mm) compared to the women who delivered after 34 weeks (median 31 mm). CL was shorter (p < 0.001) in the women who had a SPD37 (median 22 mm) compared to the women who delivered after 37 weeks (median 31 mm). CL predicted SPD34 (OR = 0.837, R² = 0.2768, AUC = 0.9406, p < 0.001) and SPD37 (OR = 0.907, R² = 0.1085, AUC = 0.7584, p < 0.001). The model achieved a sensitivity of 70.0 and 38.3% for 10% false-positive rate for SPD34 and SPD37, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CL after 24 weeks is significantly shorter in women destined to have a SPD. In low-risk singleton pregnancies CL performs very well in predicting SPD34 and adequately in predicting SPD37.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Unit, Leto Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papastefanou
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilalis
authors.forename: Makarios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eleftheriades
authors.forename: Athena P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Souka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054791:Cervical Length Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies