Journal of Nippon Medical School: Vol.70 No.2 page.135

Journal of Nippon Medical School

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ArticleTitle Is Transvaginal Ultrasonography at Mid-trimester Useful for Predicting Early Spontaneous Preterm Birth?

AuthorList Takehiko Fukami¹, Kaisuke Ishihara¹, Takao Sekiya² and Tsutomu Araki¹

Affiliation ¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujita Health University Banbuntane Houtokukai Hospital, Aichi

Language EN

Volume 70

Issue 2

Year 2003

Page 135-140

Received October 18, 2002

Accepted November 7, 2002

Keywords cervical gland area, cervical length, preterm birth, transvaginal ultrasonography, cervical ripening

Abstract Numerous reports have examined the relationship between sonographically determined cervical length and spontaneous preterm birth. Moreover, large screening studies have consistently demonstrated that the shorter the cervical length, the higher the rate of spontaneous preterm delivery. However, the sensitivity and positive predictive value of the cervical length for detecting preterm birth were low. Subsequently, we developed a new sonographic parameter termed "cervical gland area (CGA)". The purpose of this study was to determine whether sonographic cervical findings (shortened cervical length or absence of CGA) at 16∼19 weeks' gestation could predict spontaneous preterm birth. The absence of CGA as compared to the shortened cervical length showed a higher sensitivity (75.0% vs. 50.0%) and a significantly elevated positive predictive value (54.5% vs. 8.3%) for preterm birth before 32 weeks' gestation. It was concluded that the absence of CGA was a novel and useful sonographic parameter for predicting early spontaneous preterm birth.

Correspondence to Takehiko Fukami, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School Second Hospital, 1-396 Kosugi-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 211-8533, Japan
fukami@nms.ac.jp

ArticleTitle	Is Transvaginal Ultrasonography at Mid-trimester Useful for Predicting Early Spontaneous Preterm Birth?
AuthorList	Takehiko Fukami¹, Kaisuke Ishihara¹, Takao Sekiya² and Tsutomu Araki¹
Affiliation	¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School ²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujita Health University Banbuntane Houtokukai Hospital, Aichi
Language	EN
Volume	70
Issue	2
Year	2003
Page	135-140
Received	October 18, 2002
Accepted	November 7, 2002
Keywords	cervical gland area, cervical length, preterm birth, transvaginal ultrasonography, cervical ripening
Abstract	Numerous reports have examined the relationship between sonographically determined cervical length and spontaneous preterm birth. Moreover, large screening studies have consistently demonstrated that the shorter the cervical length, the higher the rate of spontaneous preterm delivery. However, the sensitivity and positive predictive value of the cervical length for detecting preterm birth were low. Subsequently, we developed a new sonographic parameter termed "cervical gland area (CGA)". The purpose of this study was to determine whether sonographic cervical findings (shortened cervical length or absence of CGA) at 16∼19 weeks' gestation could predict spontaneous preterm birth. The absence of CGA as compared to the shortened cervical length showed a higher sensitivity (75.0% vs. 50.0%) and a significantly elevated positive predictive value (54.5% vs. 8.3%) for preterm birth before 32 weeks' gestation. It was concluded that the absence of CGA was a novel and useful sonographic parameter for predicting early spontaneous preterm birth.
Correspondence to	Takehiko Fukami, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School Second Hospital, 1-396 Kosugi-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 211-8533, Japan fukami@nms.ac.jp