Early gestation: correlation of HCG levels and sonographic identification

Previous reports have indicated that an intrauterine gestational sac is not usually detected when the maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is less than 6000 mIU/ml. In order to evaluate this observation, maternal serum HCG concentrations were correlated with sonographic uterine findings in 49 patients with normal early intrauterine pregnancies. Of 37 patients in whom a gestational sac was seen, simultaneous HCG levels were 1800 mIU/ml or more in 36 cases and 357 mlU/ml in one case. In 12 cases in which a gestational sac was not detected, the serum HCG levels were 1400 mIU/ml or less. Thirteen patients had HCG levels of less than 6000 mlU/ml. A linear relation was found between gestational sac size and the exponential rise of HCG levels in early pregnancy (p less than 0.001). Of the 13 patients in whom HCG levels were less than 6000 mIU/ml, the gestational sac measured 10 mm or less in each case. Currently, a gestational sac is always seen when the HCG level is greater than 1800 mIU/ml. Comparison of serum HCG levels with sonographic detection of the gestational sac seems to be a useful method of evaluating early pregnancy.     

Abnormal pregnancy: early diagnosis by US and serum chorionic gonadotropin levels

Simultaneous sonography and quantitative serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels from 126 women with threatened abortion were compared. Of 56 women with normal outcome, 39 (70%) had a gestation sac greater than or equal to 5 mm in mean sac diameter, and in each case the HCG level was 1,800 milli-international units (mIU/ml) or greater. The serum HCG levels strongly correlated with the gestation sac sizes to a mean sac diameter of 25 mm. Of 70 abnormal pregnancies, 31 demonstrated a gestation sac. Of these, 20 women (65%) had disproportionately low HCG levels relative to sac size, including 12 in whom the HCG level was less than 1,800 mIU/ml. One woman with an early molar pregnancy had a disproportionately elevated HCG level. Correlation of sonograms with a simultaneous measurement of serum HCG level is a useful method for evaluating threatened spontaneous abortion. A disproportionately low HCG level relative to gestation sac size is evidence for an abnormal pregnancy.     

Sonography during early pregnancy: dependence of threshold and discriminatory values on transvaginal transducer frequency

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine if normal and abnormal pregnancies could be distinguished at smaller sac sizes with a higher frequency transvaginal transducer than with a 5-MHz transducer. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-nine patients with potentially abnormal pregnancies identified with a 5-MHz transvaginal transducer were immediately reimaged with a 9-5-MHz transducer. We compared our ability to visualize the yolk sac, embryo, and cardiac activity relative to mean sac diameter on imaging at both frequencies in women with normal and abnormal pregnancies. RESULTS: Of the 39 pregnancies, 22 (56%) were normal or probably normal. Using the 5-MHz transducer, a yolk sac was first seen in a 6.4-mm gestational sac but was not definitively seen in 12 gestational sacs measuring 5-13 mm. Using the 9-5-MHz transducer, yolk sacs were identified in all gestational sacs measuring 4.6-13 mm, and live embryos were seen in five of eight sacs measuring 8.1-13 mm. The largest normal gestational sac without a live embryo measured 11 mm. When we compared these pregnancies with 17 (44%) abnormal pregnancies, we found that all pregnancies that had no yolk sac by the time the gestational sac measured 5.0 mm or no live embryo by 13 mm had abnormal findings on higher frequency imaging. CONCLUSION: The ability to visualize the yolk sac and embryo in early pregnancy is critically dependent on transvaginal transducer frequency. Threshold values and discriminatory sizes used to distinguish normal and abnormal pregnancies are smaller on higher frequency than on lower frequency imaging and, therefore, should be redetermined for specific transducer frequencies.     

Comparison of transvaginal and transabdominal sonography in the detection of early pregnancy and its complications

Ninety women with a positive pregnancy test and signs and symptoms of threatened abortion or ectopic pregnancy had endovaginal and abdominal sonography in order to compare the value of the two techniques for the detection of gestational abnormalities. Either a normal delivery occurred or surgical and/or pathologic confirmation of the diagnosis was available in all cases. Fifty-five women had normal intrauterine pregnancies, 22 had ectopic pregnancies, seven had blighted ova, and six had missed abortions. All 55 normal intrauterine pregnancies were detected by endovaginal sonography, while only 11 (20%) were diagnosed by transabdominal sonography. The yolk sac, fetal pole, and fetal heart motion were seen as early as 34 days from the last menstrual period with endovaginal sonography, compared with 42 days with transabdominal sonography. Fetal heart motion was detected with endovaginal sonography in fetal poles with a crown-rump length of 3 mm or greater, whereas the fetal pole had to be at least 6 mm before fetal heart motion could be detected with the transabdominal technique. In the 22 ectopic pregnancies, a specific diagnosis of an extrauterine sac containing a fetal pole with heart motion or yolk sac was possible in three cases with the endovaginal technique, but it was not possible in any case with transabdominal sonography. Both techniques showed that each of the seven patients with final diagnosis of blighted ova had a gestational sac that was 1.7 cm or larger without visualization of the fetal pole or yolk sac. All six missed abortions were detected by endovaginal sonography, but only three were diagnosed on transabdominal sonograms. Our findings show that endovaginal sonography is more sensitive than transabdominal sonography in the detection of early pregnancy and its complications.     

Ultrasound in the first trimester of pregnancy

High-resolution sonography, including transvesical and endovaginal techniques, has resulted in enhanced visualization of embryonic and extraembryonic structures. With endovaginal sonography, the gestational sac may be seen within the decidua at about 4.5 weeks menstrual age. The yolk sac is the first structure to be seen within the gestational sac, and confirms the presence of a gestational sac rather than a decidual cast. The embryo is identified by endovaginal sonography early in the 6th week, and cardiac activity is routinely identified by a crown-rump length of 3 to 5 mm. On endovaginal sonography, absent cardiac activity in an embryo having a crown-rump length of greater than 3 to 5 mm indicates embryonic death. With endovaginal scanning, a gestational sac of greater than 8 mm without a yolk sac, or greater than 16 mm without an embryo, also indicates a nonviable pregnancy. Routine sonography primarily to assess the menstrual age should be performed in the second trimester, when added clinically relevant information may be obtained. Although it is possible to diagnose some anomalies in the first trimester, most remain second trimester sonographic diagnoses.     

Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization: A case report of a patient with bilateral salpingectomy

Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy (REP) is a rare obstetric condition caused by the mislocalization of the gestational mass. The unexpected location often results in missed or delayed diagnoses, which can complicate the treatment process. We report the case of a 34-year-old Asian woman who presented to the hospital 31 days after embryo transfer with mild vaginal bleeding. A history of bilateral salpingectomies was established. Two operations were performed before we were able to successfully remove the gestational sac from the retroperitoneal cavity. The histologic finding suggested an interesting migration pathway for the pregnancy. REP should be considered when a visible gestational sac cannot be detected on ultrasound in the expected locations, particularly among patients who undergo treatment using assisted reproductive techniques (ART), and have a history of bilateral salpingectomies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a vital role in diagnosing REP and guiding surgical interventions. A multidisciplinary team is necessary to treat REP, and monitoring beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (βHCG) levels and histologic findings remain essential during follow-up.     

Early diagnosis of nonviable pregnancy with endovaginal US

The mean diameter of the gestation sac and the presence or absence of a yolk sac or embryo and/or cardiac pulsations on endovaginal ultrasound (US) images were correlated with normal and abnormal outcomes of pregnancy. Sixty-two patients who were less than 10 weeks pregnant (menstrual age) underwent endovaginal US. In 59 patients with gestation sacs greater than or equal to 8 mm, the absence of a yolk sac predicted a nonviable pregnancy with a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 100%. In 35 patients with gestation sacs greater than or equal to 16 mm, the absence of an embryo predicted a nonviable pregnancy with a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 100%. When the absence of cardiac pulsations was added to the latter group of patients, the sensitivity was 100% and the specificity was 100%. The combination of these criteria (gestation sac size; demonstration of yolk sac, embryo and/or cardiac pulsations) enabled the early (less than 10 weeks menstrual age) diagnosis of a nonviable pregnancy with endovaginal US.     

Endovaginal sonographic evaluation of ectopic pregnancy: a prospective study

To determine the value of endovaginal sonography for evaluating women with a suspected ectopic gestation, we prospectively studied a group of 84 pregnant women in whom conventional transabdominal sonograms failed to show a living embryo. Of 84 patients studied, 25 had an ectopic gestation, 32 had a normal intrauterine pregnancy, and 27 had an abnormal (nonviable) intrauterine pregnancy. Endovaginal sonography, compared with transabdominal sonography, provided additional information in 50 cases (60%) and less information in only three cases (4%). Of 25 ectopic gestations, endovaginal sonography provided new information in 15 cases (60%) including detection of an extrauterine gestational sac (10 cases), extrauterine embryo (two cases), or adnexal mass (three cases) not observed on transabdominal sonography. Of 32 normal intrauterine pregnancies, endovaginal sonography provided additional information in 26 cases (81%) including detection of a yolk sac (14 cases), living embryo (11 cases), or small gestational sac (one case) not seen on transabdominal sonography. Of 27 abnormal intrauterine pregnancies, endovaginal sonography showed additional information in nine cases (33%) including detection of embryonic demise (three cases), retained intrauterine products (four cases), or a yolk sac (two cases) not seen on transabdominal sonography. Patient acceptance of endovaginal sonography was excellent; 82% of the patients preferred this method to transabdominal sonography, 13% expressed no preference, and 5% preferred transabdominal sonography. We conclude that endovaginal sonography can provide significant additional information in the majority of women who are referred for sonography with a suspected ectopic gestation. We believe that this method should become a integral part of sonographic evaluation in women who are suspected of having an ectopic gestation when conventional transabdominal sonography fails to show a living embryo.     

超声引导下氨甲蝶呤局部注射治疗输卵管间质部妊娠

目的 探讨超声引导下局部注射氨甲蝶呤(MTX)治疗输卵管间质部妊娠(TIP)的价值.资料与方法 回顾性分析2005-06～2009-10在解放军总医院超声诊断科接受超声引导下局部注射MTX治疗的9例TIP患者的临床资料和治疗前后声像图特点,记录血清人绒毛膜促性腺激素(β-HCG)恢复正常的时间和超声随访结果.结果 9例接受治疗的患者停经时间均≤60d.治疗成功的8例均可在超声下清晰显示妊娠病灶边界,且治疗前血清β-HCG≤50 000U/L,其中6例为孕囊型,最大径≤2.5cm,2例为包块型,最大径分别为2.6cm和3.5cm,血清β-HCG恢复至正常值的时间为14～63d.治疗失败的1例孕囊最大径为3.8cm,血清β-HCG＞50 000U/L.结论 超声引导下局部注射MTX治疗早期未破裂型TIP是一种安全有效的方法,对停经60d以内、孕囊最大径≤2.5cm且边界显示清晰、血清β-HCG≤50 000U/L的患者治疗成功率高.     

Can detection of the yolk sac in the first trimester be used to predict the outcome of pregnancy? A prospective sonographic study.

Recent reports have indicated that identification of the yolk sac should precede the detection of the embryo in a normal first-trimester sonographic examination and that failure to visualize a yolk sac strongly suggests an abnormal intrauterine pregnancy. A first-trimester prospective study was performed in 163 normal and 49 abnormal consecutive singleton gestations. All women were examined both abdominally and transvaginally, with pregnancy outcome determined by delivery of a normal infant or a spontaneous abortion. The yolk sac was analyzed in all patients in whom an embryo was not identified (n = 76). When the yolk sac was identified, the following was found: by the abdominal approach with the mean sac diameter (MSD) less than 27 mm (n = 15), nine gestations were normal and six were abnormal, and by the transvaginal approach with the MSD less than 18 mm (n = 13), seven gestations were normal and six were abnormal. The presence of a yolk sac was not consistently predictive of a normal early pregnancy. When the yolk sac was also not identified, the following was found: abdominally with the MSD less than 27 mm (n = 41), 19 gestations were normal and 22 were abnormal, and transvaginally with the MSD less than 18 mm (n = 11), six gestations were normal and five were abnormal. Absence of the yolk sac was not consistently predictive of a spontaneous abortion. When using the MSD range (20-27 mm abdominally and 7-16 mm transvaginally), over which the yolk sac but not the embryo should be identified sonographically, the yolk sac was again not consistently visualized. On abdominal sonograms, the yolk sac was present and absent in three and 10 patients, respectively, for both normal and abnormal pregnancies. On transvaginal sonograms, the yolk sac was present and absent in seven and five normal gestations and in six and four abnormal gestations, respectively. The results of this study suggest that detection of the yolk sac in the first trimester is not an early predictor of pregnancy outcome.     

MR features of ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy (EP), in which a fertilized ovum implants outside the uterine cavity, is the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the first trimester. EP is usually suspected by a positive pregnancy test and an empty uterus on transvaginal sonography (TVS). Although TVS is the initial modality of choice, it may occasionally fail to demonstrate the implantation site. When TVS findings are indeterminate, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may provide better delineation of the focus of EP owing to its excellent tissue contrast. The key MRI features of EP include gestational sac (GS)-like structures that typically appear as a cystic sac-like structure, frequently associated with surrounding acute hematoma of distinct low intensity on T2-weighted images. In tubal pregnancy, an enhanced tubal wall on postcontrast images may be another diagnostic finding. Ruptured EP is inevitably associated with acute hematoma outside these structures. In intrauterine EP, recognition of the relationship between GS-like structure and the myometrium can aid in differentiating from normal pregnancy. Diagnostic pitfalls include heterotopic pregnancy, decidual changes in endometrial cyst and theca lutein cysts mimicking GS-like structures. Knowledge of a spectrum of clinical and MRI features of EP is essential for establishing an accurate diagnosis and determining appropriate management.     

女性生殖器原发恶性肿瘤胸部转移的X线与临床特征(附204例报告)

目的　明确女性生殖器原发恶性肿瘤胸部转移的X线与临床特征是重要的 ,以提高诊断水平。方法　 2 0 4例女性生殖器肿瘤患者 ,以手术病理证实为恶性肿瘤 ;手术及化疗前后均摄取X线正、侧位胸片 ,人均 1～ 6次不等 ;并有 30例做过CT扫描 ;48例做CA - 1 2 5及 2 3例做HCG化验检查。全部资料均由 3位以上医师做了回顾性的分析。结果　 2 5例以胸水表现的胸腔转移 ,CA - 1 2 5值为 1 2 5 - 3765u/ml(正常值 <35u/ml)不等 ;1 2例滋养细胞肿瘤的肺转移 ,hCG升高为 92～ 2 0 0 0 0 0mIU/ml(正常值 <5mIU/ml) ,其中有 1例绒癌肺转移为正常孕期 38周中 ,hCG值 1 841 0 0mIU/ml。结论　胸腔内胸水转移者以卵巢癌最多 ,滋养细胞恶性肿瘤转移多为肺结节形式 ,不可忽视的是正常妊娠中可发生绒癌肺转移     

Non–surgical management of abdominal ectopic pregnancy with uterine artery embolization

Abdominal pregnancy is a rare but life-threatening variation of ectopic pregnancy that is often treated with laparoscopic management; however, we present a case successfully treated using only minimally invasive techniques. A 36-year-old female G1P0 with a history of infertility is diagnosed with 11-weeks abdominal pregnancy by transvaginal ultrasound. She presented with vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain, and her beta-human chorionic gonadotropin was 53,680 mIU/mL. The location of the fetal sac was not amenable to surgery or percutaneous injection. We performed bilateral uterine artery embolization and subsequent intramuscular methotrexate injection. The procedure was successful with no complications. The patient was followed at postoperative week 11, and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin was 2 mIU/mL, and at 3 months, a transvaginal ultrasound revealed resolution of the abdominal pregnancy.     

Complicated first-trimester pregnancies: evaluation with endovaginal US versus transabdominal technique

Endovaginal ultrasound (US) was performed in 38 pregnant women at 5-12 menstrual weeks, when the initial transabdominal sonograms had been considered inconclusive or equivocal. Clinical follow-up disclosed 32 intrauterine pregnancies (12 living, 18 spontaneous incomplete abortions, and two embryonic demises) and six ectopic pregnancies. In the 32 intrauterine pregnancies (normal and abnormal), the correct diagnosis was made in all cases with endovaginal US. The endovaginal images demonstrated the intrauterine embryo, its heart motion, and the yolk sac more clearly and more often when these structures were not apparent on the transabdominal scans. Abnormal gestational sacs were better resolved. In the six cases of ectopic pregnancy, while an extrauterine ectopic sac was visualized in only three, absence of an intrauterine gestational sac was confirmed in all cases with endovaginal scanning. No endovaginal study yielded less information than its transabdominal counterpart. Endovaginal sonography is likely to be diagnostic when transabdominal images fail to yield a definitive diagnosis in early pregnancies.     

Ectopic pregnancies in caesarean section scars: 5 years experience

PurposeThe aim of the study is to evaluate our 5 years experience in diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy developing in a Caesarean section scar.Subjects & methodsThe study included twenty-one women, diagnosed with a Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy (CSEP) in the first trimester, which was confirmed by ultrasound and treated in our hospital during 5 years between 2012 and 2016. The clinical presentations, imaging findings, and treatment outcomes of all these pregnancies were recorded.ResultsThe main complaints of the patients were vaginal bleeding in 7 (33.3%) of cases and abdominal pain in association with vaginal bleeding in 4 (19.1%) of cases. However, the remaining 10 cases (47.6%) were asymptomatic. The number of previous Caesarean sections ranged from 1 to 4 with an average of 2.14, 24% (5/21) of our patients had only one prior Caesarean section, 43% (9/21) had 2 prior Caesarean sections, 28% (6/21) had 3 prior Caesarean sections and only 5%, (1/21) had 4 prior Caesarean sections.All our 21 cases underwent successful early first trimester diagnosis with trans-vaginal color Doppler ultrasonography. All our 21 cases showed empty uterus and empty cervical canal with visualization of gestational sac at the presumed site of the Caesarean scar; however, 13 cases showed thinned myometrium (<5 mm) between the gestational sac and bladder. The mean thickness of Caesarean section incision scar was 0.3 ± 0.15 cm. 7 cases (33.3%) showed no embryo in the gestational sac while 14 cases (66.7%) showed embryonic gestational sac, 9 cases from the 14 showed heart activity.MRI studies were done in 7 patients with Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy to confirm the diagnosis and to follow up 2 complicated cases.In all 7 cases, the diagnosis of Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy using MRI included empty uterine and cervical cavities, and a gestational sac seen embedded within the site of caesarean scar, with thin myometrium adjacent to the sac. No bulging of the sac through the myometrium or bladder invasion was detected.Termination of pregnancy was done by systemic methotrexate administration in 14 cases, and with trans-cervical aspiration of the gestational sac in 7 cases. Intra-operative bleeding occurred in all 7 cases treated with aspiration of the gestational sac, one of the 7 cases complicated with hysterectomy, while one patient complicated with uterine rupture and was treated conservatively. The cases treated with systemic methotrexate injection showed no complication. The Caesarean scar mass was followed with trans-vaginal ultrasound and regressed within 2 months to about 1 year post treatment.ConclusionEarly imaging diagnosis and effective treatment of CSEP are critically important not only to improve outcomes, minimize maternal complications and the need for emergency extended surgery, but also to maintain treatment options, and potentially preserve future fertility.     

Sonographic differentiation between blighted ovum and early viable pregnancy

Thirty-five patients referred either for confirmation of pregnancy or because of vaginal bleeding associated with early pregnancy were examined sonographically. The sonograms were evaluated prospectively to determine whether a blighted ovum or early missed abortion could be differentiated from an early viable pregnancy lacking fetal echoes. A well defined trophoblastic reaction, continuous around the gestational sac, is a very good prognostic sign for continued viability; a sac greater than 2 cm in diameter without embryonic echoes is a poor prognostic sign. However, no sonographic features were found to be reliable in differentiating viable from nonviable pregnancy (presenting as an empty gestational sac) on a single sonographic examination. The authors recommend follow-up sonographic evaluation in 10-14 days.     

Expectant treatment of ectopic pregnancies: clinical and sonographic predictors

OBJECTIVE. We identified the potential clinical and sonographic predictors of the spontaneous resolution of ectopic pregnancies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. We performed a prospective study of 78 consecutive patients with a transvaginal sonographic diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy who had either two consecutive quantitative measurements of their beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) more than 24 hrs apart or an embryo with a heart beat. We evaluated the patient's age, time from the last menstrual period, beta-hCG level, size of ectopic pregnancy, presence of a gestational sac or embryonic elements, vascularity on color Doppler sonography, peak systolic velocity, and resistive index of ectopic pregnancy at the time of presentation as potential independent predictors of the final outcome. Logistic regression was performed to identify the independent predictors. RESULTS. Forty-six patients had declining beta-hCG levels, and 32 ectopic pregnancies showed an embryo with a heart beat or had steady or rising beta-hCG levels. Univariate analysis indicated that a longer time from the last menstrual period (older ectopic pregnancies), lower beta-hCG levels, and the absence of gestational sac are statistically more significantly seen in ectopic pregnancies with declining beta-hCG levels (p < 0.05). Resistive index of ectopic pregnancy reached borderline significance (p = 0.05). In a multiple logistic model, the same variables were independent predictors of outcome (p < 0.05). Resistive index was also a predictor (p = 0.09). CONCLUSION. Longer times from the last menstrual period, lower beta-hCG levels, absence of gestational sacs, and higher resistive indexes of ectopic pregnancy at the time of presentation appear to be independent predictors of the spontaneous resolution of ectopic pregnancy.     

医学营养治疗对妊娠期糖尿病患者胰岛素抵抗、瘦素水平及妊娠结局的影响

 目的 研究医学营养治疗对妊娠期糖尿病患者胰岛素抵抗、瘦素水平及妊娠结局的影响。方法 选取2018年1月至2019年7月在解放军总医院第七医学中心建档的100例妊娠期糖尿病患者作为研究对象,以自愿接受医学营养治疗的60例患者作为研究组,以接受普通营养干预的40例患者作为对照组,比较两组患者的胰岛素抵抗、血清瘦素水平及妊娠结局。结果 (1)干预12周后,研究组与对照组比较,空腹血糖[(4.81±0.47)mmol/Lvs.(5.43±0.42) mmol/L]、餐后2 h血糖(6.49±0.54)mmol/L vs (6.84±0.38)mmol/L,空腹胰岛素水平(18.06±0.55)mU/L vs (18.41±0.39) mU/L,糖化血红蛋白(5.42±0.28)% vs (5.83±0.26)%,胰岛素抵抗指数(3.91±0.16) vs (4.24±0.27),瘦素水平[(17.99±0.61)ng/ml vs (18.33±0.64)ng/ml]均明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);(2)研究组妊娠高血压疾病(6.67%)、羊水过多(1.67%)、巨大胎儿(8.33%)、胎儿生长受限(6.67%)的发生率显著低于对照组(20.00%、12.50%、25.00%、22.50%),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);(3)研究组剖宫产率(18.33%)、产后出血(3.33%)、胎儿窘迫(6.67%)、新生儿窒息(1.67%)、新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征(3.00%),新生儿低血糖(6.00%)的发生率明显低于对照组。结论 医学营养治疗可降低妊娠期糖尿病患者的血糖、瘦素水平,改善胰岛素抵抗,降低母婴并发症发生率,减少不良妊娠结局的发生。     

MRI预测子宫剖宫产瘢痕妊娠清宫术中风险的价值

目的 探讨术前MRI预测剖宫产切口瘢痕妊娠(CSP)清宫手术风险的价值.方法 回顾性分析135例经手术及病理证实的CSP患者的临床及术前MRI资料,分析各临床及MRI特征与术中大出血(≥200 ml)、术中转变手术方式及宫腔球囊填塞压迫止血的关系.单因素分析采用Mann-WhitneyU检验或X2检验,将单因素分析中有...