[Diagnosis and treatment of an occult intrauterine device]

Between February 1978 and December 1985 53 women with lost intrauterine devices (IUD) were treated. To exclude unrecognized expulsion and to locate the device sonography was primarily employed. In 90.6% of cases a correct diagnosis was established. Only in 9.4% of cases a plain X-ray of the abdomen was necessary because sonography was not diagnostic. In 47 patients (88.7%) the IUD could be located by hysteroscopy and was removed. Using biopsy forceps or curette. Of the remaining 6 cases there were 4 with perforation and intraabdominal dislocation, 1 spontaneous expulsion in the interval between diagnosis and admission to the hospital and 1 case of endometrial incrustation which escaped hysteroscopic diagnosis.