Sonographic endometrial three-layer pattern in symptomatic first-trimester pregnancy: not diagnostic of ectopic pregnancy. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • PURPOSE: We evaluated a recent report that suggested that a "3-layer" appearance of the endometrium on sonography is diagnostic of ectopic pregnancy in symptomatic pregnant patients. METHODS: We reviewed the log of pelvic sonograms performed to rule out ectopic pregnancy in women presenting with first-trimester bleeding and/or pain during a 29-month period. Medical records and sonograms of patients without sonographic evidence of intrauterine pregnancy were reviewed to determine final diagnoses and whether the 3-layer pattern was present. RESULTS: One hundred twenty patients with available follow-up had no sonographic evidence of intrauterine pregnancy. Fifty-nine (49%) had ectopic pregnancy. An endometrial 3-layer pattern was noted sonographically in 15 patients (13%), of whom 6 (40%) had ectopic pregnancy. As a diagnostic sign of ectopic pregnancy, the endometrial 3-layer pattern had a sensitivity of 10.2%, specificity of 85.2%, positive predictive value of 40%, negative predictive value of 50.5%, and accuracy of 49.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The endometrial 3-layer pattern is neither sensitive nor specific for the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

publication date

  • May 1, 1998

Research

keywords

  • Endometrium
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0031919537

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/(sici)1097-0096(199805)26:4<199::aid-jcu4>3.0.co;2-8

PubMed ID

  • 9572383

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 26

issue

  • 4