The chorionic bump: Radiologic and pathologic correlation

Chorionic bump is a rare abnormal condition of the gestational sac seen in the first trimester of pregnancies, extending from the choriodecidual surface to the gestational sac. We report the sonographic and histopathologic findings in a case involving three "chorionic bumps" extending from the choriodecidual surface to the gestational sac. Chorionic bump can be associated with a poor prognosis for the pregnancy. Therefore, cases with chorionic bumps must be followed with serial ultrasound examinations throughout the first trimester.     

Sonography of pregnancies with first-trimester bleeding and a small intrauterine gestational sac without a demonstrable embryo.

OBJECTIVE: This was a prospective observational cohort study to evaluate the outcome and prognostic criteria of pregnancies with first-trimester bleeding and a gestational sac 相似文献   

早孕期绒毛膜隆起的超声表现及临床意义

目的探讨早孕期绒毛膜隆起的超声特点及其临床意义。方法回顾性分析在我院行早孕期经阴道超声检查的孕妇33 691例,其中绒毛膜隆起60例,剔除失访病例,共38例纳入绒毛膜隆起组;绒毛膜下血肿2257例,随机抽取其中365例,剔除失访病例后,共220例纳入绒毛膜下血肿组;从余下正常孕妇中随机抽取365例,剔除失访病例后,共235例纳入正常早孕组;比较各组超声图像特点;追踪绒毛膜隆起和绒毛膜下血肿孕妇妊娠结局,分析绒毛膜隆起对妊娠预后的影响。结果绒毛膜隆起表现为妊娠早期由底蜕膜面绒毛膜向妊娠囊内的局部不规则凸起,内无血流信号。38例绒毛膜隆起组中,8例胚胎停育;220例绒毛膜下血肿组中,17例胚胎停育;235例正常早孕组中,21例胚胎停育;各组胚胎停育发生率分别为21.05%、7.72%及8.93%;绒毛膜隆起组胚胎停育发生率高于绒毛膜下血肿组及正常早孕组,差异均有统计学意义(P=0.010、0.025);绒毛膜下血肿组胚胎停育发生率与正常早孕组比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.641)。结论超声对早孕期诊断绒毛膜隆起有一定的临床应用价值。早孕期绒毛膜隆起可影响胎儿发育,造成停育。     

The chorionic bump in an ectopic pregnancy

The chorionic bump, an irregular, convex bulge of the choriodecidual surface into the gestational sac (GS), is a recently described, uncommon abnormality of the 1^st‐trimester GS and is associated with a guarded prognosis for early pregnancy. The case of this 42‐year‐old female demonstrates a previously unreported relationship: a transvaginal sonographic finding of a chorionic bump associated with a spontaneous tubal ectopic pregnancy. This might support the hypothesis that the chorionic bump represents a small hematoma that bulges into the GS. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2009     

Ectopic pregnancy. Diagnosis by sonography correlated with quantitative HCG levels

Pelvic sonograms were correlated with simultaneous human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) determinations in 150 women with early intrauterine pregnancy (N = 76) and ectopic pregnancy (N = 74). Of the 76 patients with intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), 55 had HCG levels exceeding 1,800 mIU/ml (Second International Standard), and in each case a gestational sac was identified. In comparison, 35 of 74 (47%) patients with ectopic pregnancy had HCG levels of 1,800 mIU/ml or more, and no case demonstrated a gestational sac. Although six patients (8%) with ectopic pregnancy demonstrated a "pseudogestational sac," no case was confused with a true gestational sac. We conclude that, when the HCG level exceeds 1,800 mIU/ml, an intrauterine gestational sac is normally detected and its absence is evidence for an ectopic pregnancy.     

Prognosis of very large first-trimester hematomas.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of pregnancies complicated by very large hematomas in the first trimester. METHODS: Between January 2001 and January 2006, 8085 patients between 5 and 14 weeks' gestation underwent routine first-trimester ultrasonographic examinations at our practice. Of these, 30 patients had a "very large" (> 50% of the gestational sac) intrauterine hematoma. These 30 patients were further classified according to pregnancy outcome (normal or adverse), maternal age, vaginal bleeding, crown-rump length, gestational age at diagnosis of the hematoma, and position and location of the hematoma. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Six patients were excluded (4 were still pregnant, and 2 were lost to follow-up), leaving 24 patients eligible for analysis, of which 11 (46%) had adverse outcomes and 13 (54%) had normal outcomes. The group with adverse outcomes had a significantly lower gestational age at diagnosis than the second group (7 weeks [range, 5.7-8.4 weeks] versus 8.4 weeks [range, 6.2-14 weeks]; P = .0227), but crown-rump length, vaginal bleeding, and position and location of the hematoma were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Very large hematomas were associated with adverse outcome in 46% of the pregnancies. Vaginal bleeding was not associated with a poor prognosis. Neither position nor location of the placental hematoma was related to the outcome; however, when the hematoma was diagnosed at an early gestational age, the outcomes were worse.     

First trimester findings in pregnancies after in vitro fertilization.

We assessed the frequency of abnormal sonographic findings and their significance with respect to outcome in pregnancies resulting from in vitro fertilization (IVF). We retrospectively reviewed first trimester sonograms of 53 consecutive IVF patients who had a positive pregnancy test and first trimester ultrasonography at least 4 weeks after embryo transfer, and we correlated the sonographic findings with pregnancy outcome. For controls, we compared the frequency of sonographic abnormalities in these study patients to that in a group of patients who became pregnant after ovulation induction only. In the 53 IVF patients, the numbers of gestational sacs identified on the initial sonogram were as follows: 34 singletons, 11 twins, two triplets, one quadruplets and one quintuplets; no sac was seen in four patients. In 32 patients, the first sonogram was normal, with a visualized yolk sac, or heartbeat, or both. In 10 patients the gestational sac appeared abnormal but sac contents were normal. In seven patients an abnormality of sac contents was identified, including four with an embryo but no heartbeat and three anembryonic sacs. Overall, 40% of IVF patients had sonographic abnormalities, in comparison to 7% in the control group of patients (P less than 0.05, Fisher's exact test). Of the 32 patients with normal sonograms, 26 (81%) delivered at least one live infant. Of the 10 patients whose gestation sacs appeared abnormal, nine (90%) gave birth to live infants. Of the seven patients with abnormal sac contents, two (29%) delivered at least one live infant. We conclude that abnormal findings are frequently present on the initial sonogram of pregnant patients after IVF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Primary evacuation therapy for Cesarean scar pregnancy: three new cases and review.

We report three cases of first-trimester Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) treated with evacuation therapy. In one patient with a gestational age of 7 weeks and with deep sac implantation, there was massive uterine bleeding and uterine perforation following evacuation. The other two patients, both with a pregnancy < 7 weeks and with intrauterine gestational sacs, were successfully treated with surgical evacuation without complications. A MEDLINE search revealed 11 cases that fulfilled our criteria of a certain diagnosis of scar pregnancy and with evacuation as the primary treatment. The outcome of these 11 cases and that of our three new cases suggests that the combination of a gestational sac size corresponding to a gestational age >/= 7 weeks, coupled with a deep implantation, portend an unsatisfactory outcome of surgical evacuation as a means of treating CSP.     

Transvaginal ultrasound measurement of cervical length and efficacy of misoprostol in first-trimester pregnancy failure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the role of cervical length measurement in predicting successful treatment, by misoprostol administration, of early (first-trimester) pregnancy failure. METHOD: A prospective study was conducted of all patients who agreed to medical treatment of pregnancy failure. Cervical length and other sonographic variables were measured using pelvic ultrasound before medical treatment began. Measurements were compared between the group with successful medical treatment and the group in whom treatment failed. RESULTS: In 125 women included in the study, the success rate of misoprostol treatment was 64.8%. There were no significant differences between the groups with successful and failed treatment for cervical length (29.9 +/- 9.3 vs. 30.4 +/- 6.8 mm, P = 0.75), distance between gestational sac and 'virtual' cervical internal os (23.9 +/- 13 vs. 26.6 +/- 13 mm, P = 0.26), crown-rump length (8.7 +/- 9.7 vs. 6.7 +/- 8.6 mm, P = 0.25), or gestational sac diameter (31.3 +/- 14 vs. 30.1 +/- 15 mm, P = 0.73). CONCLUSION: Cervical length does not predict the success of misoprostol treatment of first-trimester pregnancy failure.     

The empty amnion: a sign of early pregnancy failure.

Between 6.5 to 10 weeks of gestation, the length of the amniotic cavity is similar to that of the embryo. It follows that by the time an amniotic sac is detectable sonographically, an embryo of equal length should also be visualized. Retrospective review of case records at our institution revealed 15 patients in whom the amnion was visualized in the absence of an embryonic pole during first trimester sonography (endovaginal and transvesical). Indications for sonographic examination included gestational age estimation, discrepant size and dates, or vaginal bleeding. The mean sac diameter for the 15 gestations ranged from 14 to 36 mm, corresponding to gestational ages of 6.1 to 9.5 weeks. Ages based on the last menstrual period ranged from 6.1 to 11 weeks. A yolk sac was identified in all cases in addition to the amniotic sac, but neither an embryo nor cardiac pulsations were observed. In 12 of the 15 cases the size of the gestational sac was greater than 16 mm, such that the absence of an embryo also met an accepted criterion for a failed pregnancy. Follow-up in all cases confirmed early pregnancy failure. In this series the demonstration of an "empty amnion" (visualization of an amnion but no identifiable embryonic pole) was always associated with pregnancy loss. The "empty amnion" sign is helpful as an additional finding confirming early pregnancy failure.     

The chorionic bump: Etiologic insights from two pathologic pregnancies

The clinical significance and etiology of the chorionic bump remain unclear. We describe two pregnancies characterized by chorionic bumps, which subsequently were diagnosed with a complete mole and trisomy 18, respectively. We hypothesize that placental pathology, including edema and hydropic villi, may contribute to or cause the sonographic finding of some chorionic bumps. An association between chorionic bumps and aneuploidy awaits future study. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44 :452–454, 2016;     

Prediction of abortion using three-dimensional ultrasound volumetry of the gestational sac and the amniotic sac in threatened abortion

PURPOSE.: To determine whether gestational sac volume (GSV) or amniotic sac volume (ASV) and/or the difference between them can predict abortion in women with first-trimester threatened abortion. METHODS.: Ninety patients between 6 and 12 weeks of gestation presenting with vaginal bleeding were studied. Seventy-six delivered after 24 weeks of gestation (group A) and 14 aborted before 20 weeks of gestation (group B). All patients had a singleton viable pregnancy demonstrated by transvaginal ultrasound. Gestational sac and amniotic sac volumes were measured in all the patients using three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound with Virtual Organ Computer-aided Analysis software, and the gestational sac volume - amniotic sac volume (GSV - ASV) was calculated. RESULTS.: The groups did not differ in terms of age, parity, number of previous abortions, or term deliveries. The GSV (group A: mean 32.0 ± 27.7 cm(3) ; group B: 26.7 ± 29.1 cm(3) ) and the ASV (group A: 21.1 ± 25.5 cm(3) ; group B: 20.6 ± 26.0 cm(3) ) were not statistically different, while the GSV - ASV was significantly smaller in group B (aborting before week 20) (group A: 10.9 ± 10.9 cm(3) ; group B: 6.1 ± 8.6 cm(3) ; p < 0.05). Using receiver operator curves, the area under the curve for predicting normal pregnancy outcome of the GSV - ASV measurement was 0.654. When the GSV - ASV was 1.8 cm(3) or less, abortion was predicted with 84% sensitivity and 43% specificity. CONCLUSIONS.: The measurement of the GSV and the ASV are not good predictors of abortion in patients with first-trimester vaginal bleeding, whereas the use of the GSV - ASV may be helpful in predicting the outcome of pregnancy. ? 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 40:389-393, 2012.     

Normal Intrauterine Pregnancy Is Unlikely in Patients Who Have Echogenic Material Identified within the Endometrial Cavity at Transvaginal Ultrasonography

In first-trimester patients with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, pelvic ultrasonography (US) is often performed to assess the status of the pregnancy. Identification of echogenic material within the endometrial cavity in the absence of a gestational sac has been attributed to the presence of either retained products of conception or clotted blood. However, to the authors' knowledge, no study has directly addressed whether this finding reliably excludes the diagnosis of a normal intrauterine pregnancy (IUP). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the identification of echogenic material within the endometrial cavity at transvaginal US excludes the diagnosis of a normal IUP. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from August 1991 to August 1997 on consecutive urban teaching hospital ED patients with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding who had a transvaginal US performed during the ED visit that demonstrated echogenic material within the endometrial cavity. Patients were excluded if they had a dilatation and evacuation (D + E) procedure performed prior to the exclusion of a normal IUP by other means [open cervical os, falling quantitative beta--human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) values, a progesterone value < 5.0 ng/mL or beta-hCG > 3,000 mIU/mL] or if they were lost to follow-up. Patients were followed until a final diagnosis was ultimately determined. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients with echogenic material were identified. Of these, three patients were excluded because a D + E was performed prior to an IUP being excluded by other means, and two patients were lost to follow-up. Of the 78 enrolled patients, none had a final diagnosis of normal IUP. Ectopic pregnancy was confirmed in nine patients, five of whom had no adnexal or cul de sac findings to suggest this diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In symptomatic patients who have echogenic material but no gestational sac visualized within the endometrial cavity at US, the likelihood of a normal IUP is low.     

Assessment of uterine artery blood flow in normal first-trimester pregnancies and in those complicated by uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To compare uterine artery blood flow in normal first-trimester pregnancies with those complicated by uterine bleeding. METHODS: Uterine artery blood flow was investigated by transvaginal color Doppler in 46 pregnant women affected by uterine bleeding and in a control group of 35 women with normal intrauterine pregnancy. Gestational age ranged from the 6th to the 12th week. Three blood flow values were calculated, the pulsatility index, the resistance index and the peak systolic velocity. Results were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of the 46 patients affected by uterine bleeding, 18 had an incomplete miscarriage, eight had a blighted ovum, five had a missed miscarriage and 15 continued their pregnancy until term and delivered liveborn infants. No significant differences were found in any of the three vascular indices between the normal and the pathological groups of patients. Uterine artery pulsatility and resistance indices decreased with gestational age in both normal and abnormal pregnancies but this change was not statistically significant. The peak systolic velocity significantly increased with gestational age in the control group but not in the pathological group. In patients with a retroplacental hematoma, uterine vascular resistance appeared higher than in those without a hematoma, while the peak systolic velocity showed no difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Doppler analysis of the uterine artery blood flow is unlikely to have a clinical role in the management of early pregnancies complicated by uterine bleeding.     

First-trimester, three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound volumetry in normal pregnancies and spontaneous miscarriages.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform three-dimensional ultrasound volumetry of intrauterine contents in cases of normal and failed pregnancies and correlate these with conventional two-dimensional measurements. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study. Three-dimensional volumetric data were collected from a total of 111 patients with first-trimester singleton pregnancies together with conventional two-dimensional measurements. A single investigator performed all ultrasound scans and volume measurements. RESULTS: Among 111 participants, 30 had an ongoing pregnancy and 81 had a miscarriage (anembryonic pregnancy 30, missed miscarriage 30, and incomplete miscarriage 21). There were no significant differences in age, parity, or gestational age between groups. A positive linear correlation was demonstrable between the crown-rump length and gestational sac volume in normal pregnancies (r = 0.962) and between gestational sac volume and gestational age, but the correlation was weaker in cases of missed miscarriage (r = 0.561). The volume of the retained products of conception as measured by three-dimensional ultrasound volumetry in cases of incomplete miscarriage also showed a strong linear correlation (r = 0.938) to their maximum anterior-posterior diameter. There was an exponential correlation between the mean gestational sac diameter and gestational sac volume and the crown-rump length and embryonic volume in cases of both normal and failed pregnancies. The mean gestational sac diameter:crown-rump length ratio (P = 0.008) and gestational sac volume:embryonic volume ratio (P = 0.023) in missed miscarriages were significantly higher than those in ongoing pregnancies. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional ultrasound volumetry of intrauterine contents in normal and failed pregnancies correlates well with conventional two-dimensional measurements. Volumetric assessment does not seem to improve the diagnosis of miscarriage. However, its potential to predict pregnancies that will fail and determine the appropriate management regime for individual patients merits further research.     

First trimester bleeding evaluation

First trimester bleeding is a common presentation in the emergency room. Ultrasound evaluation of patients with first trimester bleeding is the mainstay of the examination. The important causes of first trimester bleeding include spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, and gestational trophoblastic disease; 50% to 70% of spontaneous abortions are due to genetic abnormalities. In normal pregnancy, the serum beta hCG doubles or increases by at least 66% in 48 hours. The intrauterine GS should be visualized by TVUS with beta hCG levels between 1000 to 2000 mIU/mL IRP. Visualization of the yolk sac within the gestational sac is definitive evidence of intrauterine pregnancy. Embryonic cardiac activity can be identified with CRL of >5 mm. A GS with a mean sac diameter (MSD) of 8 mm or more without a yolk sac and a GS with an MSD of 16 mm or more without an embryo, are important predictors of a nonviable gestation. A GS with a mean sac diameter of 16 mm or more (TVUS) without an embryo is a sonographic sign of anembryonic gestation. A difference of <5 mm between the mean sac diameter and the CRL carries an 80% risk of spontaneous abortion. Approximately 20% of women with first trimester bleeding have a subchorionic hematoma. The presence of an extra ovarian adnexal mass is the most common sonographic finding in ectopic pregnancy. Other findings include the tubal ring sign and hemorrhage. About 26% of ectopic pregnancies have normal pelvic sonograms on TVUS. Complete hydatidiform mole presents with a complex intrauterine mass with multiple anechoic areas of varying sizes (Snowstorm appearance). Twenty-five percent to 65% of molar pregnancies have associated theca-leutin cysts. Arteriovenous malformation of the uterus is a rare but life-threatening cause of vaginal bleeding in the first trimester. The sonographic findings in a patient with first trimester bleeding should be correlated with serum beta hCG levels to arrive at an appropriate clinical diagnosis.     

未破裂输卵管妊娠的超声诊断

目的探讨未破裂输卵管妊娠的超声图像诊断依据。方法对经手术和病理证实的31例未破裂输卵管妊娠的临床症状、超声图像、术中所见及病理结果进行对照分析。结果超声检查11例探及囊样无回声;14例探及稍强回声环,其中13例见血流信号环绕;6例见异常回声团。共有7例探及盆腔无回声。手术病理证实31例均系未破裂型输卵管妊娠。结论未破裂型输卵管妊娠超声图像可分为孕囊型、彩环型及包块型,诊断中除应熟练确认未破裂型输卵管妊娠的超声图像特点,还应对未破裂型输卵管妊娠注意识别各种假囊。     

The gray scale appearance of the normal pregnancy from 4 to 16 weeks of gestation.

Since the advent of gray scale, more detail is available on sonograms and the products of conception are more readily seen. The gestational sac can be seen at about the fifth week of gestation and the fetal parts can be recognized around the seventh week of gestation. The gestational sac, fetal parts, and the placenta can be followed all the way through pregnancy without any "blind periods." In the first three months of pregnancy, gestational age can be determined by measuring the size of the gestational sac in centimeters and adding 2 to that number. From then on the head and chest measurements can be used for a more accurate determination of gestational age.     

CA5-04: Identifying Pregnancy Episodes in the Vaccine Safety Datalink

Background/Aims The need for research on the safety of vaccination during pregnancy is widely recognized. Large, population-based data systems like the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) may be useful for this research, but identifying pregnancies using electronic medical record (EMR) and claims data can be challenging. Methods We modified an existing pregnancy identification algorithm originally developed by Kaiser Permanente Northwest to identify pregnancy outcomes and dates using the standardized VSD data files. We validated the algorithm by calculating the percent agreement in pregnancy outcome type, end date, and gestational age between the algorithm and manual medical record review. At each site, we randomly sampled 15 episodes within four outcome type strata (live births, spontaneous abortions, elective abortions, and other pregnancy outcomes) for a total of 60 episodes per site. Seven of eight VSD sites participated. Results We identified 595,929 pregnancy episodes ending in 2002-2006 among women 12-55 years of age. Of these pregnancies, 75% ended in live births, 12% in spontaneous abortions, and 9% in elective abortions. We were able to confirm a pregnancy on or near the algorithm-specified pregnancy start and end dates for 99% of live births, 93% of spontaneous abortions, 92% of elective abortions, and 90% of other outcomes. The agreement between the algorithm-identified and the abstractor- indentified outcome date ranged from 70% (elective abortion) to 96% (live birth) depending on outcome type. When gestational age was available in the EMR, agreement ranged from 82% (other) to 98% (live birth) depending on outcome type. Discussion The VSD algorithm accurately identifies pregnancy episodes across participating sites using the standardized VSD data files. Additional manual record review may be needed to improve the precision of the pregnancy date estimates depending on specific study needs. This algorithm will allow us to conduct large, population-based studies of the safety of vaccination during pregnancy.