The role of transvaginal ultrasonography and colour Doppler imaging in the detection of ectopic pregnancy.

Abstract

To assess the use of transvaginal ultrasound and colour Doppler imaging in the detection of ectopic pregnancy. Seventy-one patients with suspected ectopic pregnancies had transvaginal sonography and colour Doppler imaging performed and 61 ectopic pregnancies were confirmed at surgery. Various ultrasound features on transvaginal B mode scanning were noted and the resistance index of peritrophoblastic flow in the adnexal masses computed. The use of transvaginal B mode imaging alone in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy achieved a sensitivity of 98% and a positive predictive value of 86%. The mean gestational age at time of diagnosis was 6 weeks 5 days (range 4 weeks to 13 weeks 2 days). The use of transvaginal colour flow imaging did not increase detection rates of ectopic pregnancy. The mean RI values for patients with or without ectopic pregnancy were almost identical. Colour Doppler imaging failed to improve on the results of transvaginal B mode sonography in the detection of ectopic pregnancy.