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

Abstract

Objective: To assess the use of transvaginal ultrasound and colour Doppler imaging in the detection of ectopic pregnancy. Materials and Methods: Seventy-one patients with suspected ectopic pregnancies had trans vaginal 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: Colour Doppler imaging failed to improve on the results of transvaginal B mode sonography in the detection of ectopic pregnancy.