The efficiency of hysterosalpingo-contrastsonography (HyCoSy) in the evaluation of tubal patency

Abstract

Radiological hysterosalpingography (R-HSG) and laparoscopic hydrotubation are widely used for the evaluation of tubal patency in infertile patients. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages that limit their use. In this study, the efficiency of a new method (HyCoSy) in the diagnosis of tubal patency was evaluated by comparing it with the traditional methods (R-HSG and laparoscopic hydrotubation). In a total of 47 infertile patients HyCoSy was performed in the evaluation of tubal patency, between November 1996 and May 1997 at Akdeniz University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In 18 of 47 patients, the traditional methods were also performed and the results were compared with HyCoSy. In this study laparoscopic hydrotubation was accepted as the 'gold standard'. In 36 fallopian tubes of 18 patients the clinical concordance of HyCoSy and laparoscopic hydrotubation was 86%, R-HSG and laparoscopic hydrotubation was 77%. In this study it was shown that in the evaluation of tubal patency the new method; HyCoSy is statistically comparable with the traditional methods. HyCoSy has the advantage of being easily repeatable compared with R-HSG and this may reduce false-positive results. Furthermore HyCoSy is a welltolerated and easily applicable method compared with R-HSG.