[Translabial sonography of the lower uterine segment]

The aim of this prospective study is to asses the possibilities of translabial (transperineal) sonography for observation the cervix uteri and to compare it with the transabdominal sonography. The material consists of 58 pregnant women in third trimester of pregnancy. We use abdominal transducer (3.5 Mhz) of Kranzbuhler ultrasound for abdominal and transperineal scanning. The ultrasound examination of the cervix includes: endocervical length, cervical weight, weight of the cervical canal and in case of tunneling its parameters. The satisfying image for ultrasound biometry of the cervix we achieved in 92% of the cases with transabdominal scanning and in 97% with translabial scanning. The mean values of the ultrasound examined parameters of the cervix are not significantly different with transabdominal and translabial measurement. The translabial ultrasound method is feasible and well accepted by the pregnant women.