[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies. A report of 109 cases]

To assess the accuracy of ultrasonographic diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies.

A retrospective study of ultrasonographic findings of 109 patients operated for ectopic pregnancy between january 1997 and december 1998. Ultrasonography was performed with an Aloka SSD 620 sonographic imager and a 5 MHz endovaginal transducer.

All patients had a transvaginal sonography. Of these, 15 had a transabdominal sonography. Ultrasonographic findings of the 109 ectopic pregnancies were an extrauterine gestational sac in 10 cases (9.17%), an adnexel mass clearly separated from uterus and ovary in 87 cases (79.81%), a pelvic fluid in 90 cases (82.56%) and pseudogestational sac in 6 cases. Ultrasonography established the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy in 89% of cases. Serum B HCG level was needed for diagnosis in 12 cases (11%).

Transvaginal sonography is the method of choice for the evaluation of women with a suspected ectopic pregnancy. However, serum B HCG levels are useful for diagnosis in 11% of cases.