THE CORRELATION BETWEEN TRANSPERINEAL SONOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL EXAMINATION IN THE EVALUATION OF THE 3RD-TRIMESTER CERVIX

Objective: To determine the correlation between transperineal or trans labial ultrasound and digital examination of the cervix in the third t rimester in women presenting to the obstetrical triage area complainin g of uterine contractions and/or rupture of membranes. Method: One hun dred women were evaluated initially with an ultrasound unit using a 5- MHz glove-covered curvilinear transducer applied to the perineum in th e sagittal plane. Immediately after the ultrasound evaluation, another examiner assessed the cervix digitally, blinded to the sonographic re sults. Cervical dilatation, length, and station were assessed. Results : Transperineal ultrasound correlated (P < .001) with digital cervical examination in the assessment of dilatation (Pearson correlation coef ficient 0.87), length (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.80), and corr ected station (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.69). Conclusion: Ther e is a statistically significant correlation between the digital cervi cal examination and the sonographic assessment of cervical dilatation, length, and station by the transperineal approach.