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PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of decidual cysts in patients with ectopic pregnancy and assess the value of endovaginal sonographic demonstration of decidual cysts in predicting ectopic pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 288 proved ectopic pregnancies was reviewed, and a series of 179 patients with pregnancies of less than 8 weeks menstrual age was prospectively examined. RESULTS: Decidual cysts were identified in 30 (14.4%) of 208 ectopic pregnancies. In 12 patients a decidual cyst was the first sonographic sign of ectopic pregnancy, and in six patients it was the only abnormal sonographic finding. Four of five patients with decidual cysts had an ectopic pregnancy. Decidual cysts had a sensitivity of 21%, specificity of 92%, positive predictive value of 80%, and negative predictive value of 42% in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Patients with decidual cysts are at high risk for ectopic pregnancy and should be monitored or treated appropriately, depending on the clinical f...

To determine the relation between three characteristics of the yolk sac (number, size and morphologic features) and outcome in monochorionic monoamniotic twin pregnancy.The authors reviewed data for the four sets of monochorionic monoamniotic twins detected by first-trimester ultrasonography between January 1990 and June 1994 at their institution. Data analysed included yolk sac number, size and morphologic features, as well as the outcome of the pregnancy.In all four sets of twins, only one yolk sac was identified. In one case the yolk sac was irregular in contour, and in two it was abnormally large. Two of the four mothers delivered healthy twins at 34 weeks gestational age, one had conjoined twins ( and underwent elective termination of the pregnancy), and one had a twin ectopic pregnancy (and underwent salpingectomy).A single yolk sac in cases of monochorionic monoamniotic twins may be a normal finding.

To evaluate the relationship of the endometrial canal and decidua vera to the interstitial gestational sac and to determine if this relationship can be used to increase the predictive value of ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of interstitial ectopic pregnancy.The US findings in 12 patients with interstitial ectopic pregnancy were reviewed. Radiologists also reviewed the cases of 40 patients with various diagnoses to assess the accuracy of the interstitial line sign.US showed a definite gestational sac in four of the 12 patients (33%); the rest had a heterogeneous mass in the cornual region. Thinning of the myometrial mantle was seen in these four patients. The gestational sac appeared eccentric in three of these but in only three of 12 (25%) overall. The endometrial canal or interstitial portion of the tube was identified in 11 of 12 patients (92%). The interstitial line had better sensitivity (80%) and specificity (98%) than eccentric gestational sac location (sensitivity, 40%; specificity, 88%) and myometrial thinning (sensitivity, 40%; specificity, 93%) for the diagnosis of interstitial ectopic pregnancy.The interstitial line sign is a useful diagnostic sign of interstitial ectopic pregnancy.

Until the advent of endovaginal ultrasonography (US), transvesical US was the only US technique availab le for evaluation of patients with suspected ectopic gestation. A study was undertaken to assess the predictive ability of transvesical and endovaginal US and determine whether endovaginal US could be used alone. Fifty-three patients who had a positive pregnancy test finding and who were at risk for ectopic pregnancy were examined with both endovaginal and transvesical US. Twenty-nine were examined retrospectively and 24 were examined prospectively. Standard sonographic criteria were used to differentiate between intrauterine pregnancy and ectopic gestation. The clinical or pathologic diagnosis was ectopic pregnancy in 18 patients (34%), normal intrauterine pregnancy in 19 (36%), and abnormal intrauterine pregnancy in 16 (30%). Endovaginal US increased the sensitivity of detecting a live ectopic pregnancy (from 6% to 17%). Endovaginal US, by allowing early diagnosis of intrauterine pregnancy, significantly increased the diagnostic accuracy for ectopic pregnancy (from 60% to 83%). Endovaginal US provided significant additional information in women referred for sonography with a suspected ectopic gestation. On the basis of these findings it is concluded that endovaginal US can be used alone in the majority of women with suspected ectopic gestation.