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Cervical Evaluation: From Ancient Medicine to Precision Medicine
1Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Intermountain Healthcare, Utah Valley Hospital, Provo, Utah; and the Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Since ancient times, cervical assessment for predicting timing of delivery has relied primarily on digital (subjective) assessment of dilatation, softening, and length. To date, transvaginal ultrasound cervical length is the only one of these parameters that meets criteria for a biomarker; no objective, quantitative measure of cervical dilatation or softening has gained clinical acceptance. This review discusses how the cervix has been assessed from ancient times to the present day and how a precision medicine approach could improve understanding of not only the cervix, but also parturition in general.
Since ancient times, cervical assessment for predicting timing of delivery has relied primarily on digital (subjective) assessment of dilatation, softening, and length. To date, transvaginal ultrasound cervical length is the only one of these parameters that meets criteria for a biomarker; no objective, quantitative measure of cervical dilatation or softening has gained clinical acceptance. This review discusses how the cervix has been assessed from ancient times to the present day and how a precision medicine approach could improve understanding of not only the cervix, but also parturition in general.
