Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 8, Issue 10 565-569, Copyright © 1989 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
A comparison of transvaginal and abdominal ultrasound in visualizing the first trimester conceptus
M. T. Cullen, J. J. Green, E. A. Reece and J. C. Hobbins
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
Ultrasound visualization of the first trimester embryo was compared using
abdominal and transvaginal sonography. The parameters evaluated included
the ability to obtain biometry, the ability to visualize detailed internal
anatomy, and a subjective assessment of the overall image clarity. In 120
patients studied, transvaginal sonography was superior to abdominal
sonography in obtaining biometric measurements in 51 cases (43%) and for
visualizing internal anatomy in 45 cases (38%); also the image clarity of
transvaginal sonography was subjectively better in 75 cases (63%). Vaginal
sonography was superior to abdominal sonography in gestations less than or
equal to 10 weeks, in obese patients, and in patients with retroverted
uteri. The major difficulty encountered with transvaginal sonography was
the limited maneuverability of the probe to generate specific views.
Vaginal sonography can be a valuable tool in imaging the first trimester
fetus, complementing, not replacing, abdominal sonography.
