Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 6, Issue 3 145-150, Copyright © 1987 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Ectopic pregnancy. Diagnosis by sonography correlated with quantitative HCG levels

D. A. Nyberg, R. A. Filly, F. C. Laing, L. A. Mack and P. W. Zarutskie

Pelvic sonograms were correlated with simultaneous human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) determinations in 150 women with early intrauterine pregnancy (N = 76) and ectopic pregnancy (N = 74). Of the 76 patients with intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), 55 had HCG levels exceeding 1,800 mIU/ml (Second International Standard), and in each case a gestational sac was identified. In comparison, 35 of 74 (47%) patients with ectopic pregnancy had HCG levels of 1,800 mIU/ml or more, and no case demonstrated a gestational sac. Although six patients (8%) with ectopic pregnancy demonstrated a "pseudogestational sac," no case was confused with a true gestational sac. We conclude that, when the HCG level exceeds 1,800 mIU/ml, an intrauterine gestational sac is normally detected and its absence is evidence for an ectopic pregnancy.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. O. Gerscovich Early Pregnancy and Its Normal Measurement Parameters Practical Mnemonic "Rule of 2" Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, November 1, 1995; 11(6): 327 - 328. [Abstract] [PDF]