Obstetric ultrasonography in a tertiary military medical referral center

Antenatal ultrasonography is an integral component of diagnostic tests available to the practicing obstetrician. Periodic assessment of sonographic services offered and their diagnostic reliability is necessary for good patient care and quality assurance/risk management (QA/RM) documentation. We report the findings from a 1-year review of antenatal ultrasonographic services provided in a military referral center serving the Department of Defense in the southeastern United States. During the study period, 1627 obstetric scans were done by our Department of Radiology. Most of the examinations (139 [85%]) were done on patients served on a continuing basis by USAF Medical Center, Keesler; 236 (15%) studies were done on patients referred by other military hospitals throughout the region. Of all scans available for review, 1529 were normal, whereas 98 (6%) revealed clinically significant abnormalities. We address herein the results of this periodic assessment, as well as implications for referral among Department of Defense hospitals.