D. Botsis et al., The accuracy of transvaginal sonography in detecting retained products of conception after first-trimester sponstaneous abortion, PRENAT N M, 6(2), 2001, pp. 112-115
The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and diagnostic accur
acy of transvaginal sonography (NS) in selecting women who presented in our
department with clinical symptoms of spontaneous abortion and were thought
to require a uterine evacuation. Forty-six patients were divided in two gr
oups: group A included 24 patients who had a negative TVS examination for r
etained products of conception, with a homogeneous, well-defined endometria
l stripe between the endometrium and myometrium. Group B consisted of 22 pa
tients with a positive NS examination for retained products of conception,
with a heteroechogenic endometrial stripe and abnormal surface between the
endometrium and myometrium. All women gave informed consent for dilatation
and curettage (D&C) followed by histopathological examination. NS had a sen
sitivity of 95%, a specificity of 88% and a positive predictive value of 86
%. TVS can be a useful technique in cases of spontaneous abortion, in decid
ing which patients need to undergo surgery or expectant management.