Vaginal Sonography and a Positive Serum hCG Test for Early Detection of Ectopic Pregnancy

Abstract

SummarySummaryA transvaginal scan was performed on 53 women with suspected ectopic pregnancy and a positive serum hCG. In 22 patients, ectopic pregnancy was correctly ruled out, and the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was proved at laparotomy in 30 patients. Only one false positive diagnosis was made. The sensitivity of diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy with transvaginal ultrasound was 100 per cent and the specificity was 96 per cent. The positive and negative predictive values of this approach were 97 and 100 per cent respectively. Laparoscopy was avoided in 12 patients (51 per cent) with early intra-uterine pregnancies and corpus luteum cyst complications. The addition of transvaginal ultrasound scan as an aid in the management of ectopic pregnancy gives improved accuracy of pre-operative diagnosis, reduces the number of unnecessary laparoscopies and allows the potential for use of non-surgical methods of treatment.