OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to estimate the potential value of elastographic evaluation of the internal cervical os at 18-22 weeks of pregnancy in patients with short cervical length for prediction of preterm delivery (PTD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective observational study included 109 patients with cervical length of ≤ 25 mm at 18-22 weeks scan. Stiffness of the internal cervical os was assessed by elastography. Elastographic assessment of the internal os was performed using a color map: red (soft), yellow (medium soft), blue (medium hard), and purple (hard). If two colors were visible in the region of the internal os, the softer option was noted. The following outcome measures were analyzed: percentage of PTDs in various categories of elastographic cervical assessment, sensitivity specificity negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of elastography in predicting PTDs. Additionally ROC curves were constructed for elastography and cervical length for predicting PTDs. RESULTS: Forty-five cases of PTDs (< 37 weeks of pregnancy) were found in the studied population. The number of PTDs was significantly higher in the red group, than in the blue and purple groups. The sensitivity specificity NPV and PPV for the assessment of both, red and yellow internal os for predicting preterm delivery were 82.2%, 75.0%, 84.0% and 72.5% respectively The cut-off value for elastography suggested inclusion of both, red and yellow (warm) colors as predictors of PTD. CONCLUSIONS: Elastographic evaluation of the internal cervical os at 18-22 weeks of pregnancy in patients with short cervical length may be useful in predicting PTD.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to estimate the potential value of elastographic evaluation of the internal cervical os at 18-22 weeks of pregnancy in patients with short cervical length for prediction of preterm delivery (PTD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective observational study included 109 patients with cervical length of ≤ 25 mm at 18-22 weeks scan. Stiffness of the internal cervical os was assessed by elastography. Elastographic assessment of the internal os was performed using a color map: red (soft), yellow (medium soft), blue (medium hard), and purple (hard). If two colors were visible in the region of the internal os, the softer option was noted. The following outcome measures were analyzed: percentage of PTDs in various categories of elastographic cervical assessment, sensitivity specificity negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of elastography in predicting PTDs. Additionally ROC curves were constructed for elastography and cervical length for predicting PTDs. RESULTS: Forty-five cases of PTDs (< 37 weeks of pregnancy) were found in the studied population. The number of PTDs was significantly higher in the red group, than in the blue and purple groups. The sensitivity specificity NPV and PPV for the assessment of both, red and yellow internal os for predicting preterm delivery were 82.2%, 75.0%, 84.0% and 72.5% respectively The cut-off value for elastography suggested inclusion of both, red and yellow (warm) colors as predictors of PTD. CONCLUSIONS: Elastographic evaluation of the internal cervical os at 18-22 weeks of pregnancy in patients with short cervical length may be useful in predicting PTD.
Authors: Yun Ji Jung; Hayan Kwon; Jeongeun Shin; Yejin Park; Seok-Jae Heo; Hyun Soo Park; Soo-Young Oh; Ji-Hee Sung; Hyun-Joo Seol; Hyun Mi Kim; Won Joon Seong; Han Sung Hwang; Inkyung Jung; Ja-Young Kwon Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-19 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Bo Wang; Yong Zhang; Shuangshuang Chen; Xiaowei Xiang; Juan Wen; Mei Yi; Baiyun He; Bing Hu Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2019-07 Impact factor: 1.817