P17.04: Ultrasonic tissue characterization of the pregnant human cervix

Abstract

Results: Difference of EI for anterior and posterior wall of the cervix was smaller in the group of patients who delivered at term, than in the group of women who delivered earlier (t-test, P = 0.049). Mean for group of patients with term delivery was 0.00 points of EI, in the group with preterm delivery it was 0.63. No patient with the same EI for anterior and posterior wall delivered before 37 weeks. No correlation of internal os EI and preterm delivery was found. Conclusions: Elastography as a new tool of evaluation of the risk of preterm delivery seems to be very helpful in managing patients with uterine contractions before 37 weeks of gestation. Elastography may stratify the patients to the groups of high and low risk of preterm delivery and manage them accordingly.