Feasibility of 2-Hour vs 24-Hour Delayed Radiography in Oil-Based Hysterosalpingography: A Comparative Diagnostic...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Gynecology
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is vital for evaluating female fertility by assessing fallopian tube patency and function.
• Current protocols involve delayed radiography, typically at 24 hours post-procedure.
• Optimizing HSG protocols can improve efficiency in fertility assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic consistency of 2-hour versus 24-hour delayed post-HSG radiographs for tubal patency.
• To evaluate the clinical utility of shortened delayed radiography time in female fertility diagnosis.
• To assess the impact of delayed radiography timing on subsequent clinical pregnancy rates.

Main Methods:

• A prospective comparative study involving two cohorts: one with 2-hour delayed radiographs and another with 24-hour delayed radiographs.
• Hysteroscopy with chromopertubation (HSC) was used as the reference standard for tubal assessment within one month.
• Clinical pregnancy outcomes were followed for 12 months post-HSG.

Main Results:

• Both 2-hour and 24-hour delayed radiographs showed moderate agreement with HSC findings (kappa ≈ 0.6), with significant differences noted (P<0.001).
• Diagnostic accuracy metrics (accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity) were comparable between the 2-hour and 24-hour groups.
• No significant difference in the 1-year clinical pregnancy rate was observed between the groups (P=0.596).

Conclusions:

• A 2-hour delayed radiograph is a feasible alternative to the conventional 24-hour delayed radiograph for assessing tubal patency.
• The findings suggest that shortening the HSG radiography time may streamline fertility evaluations without compromising pregnancy outcomes.
• Further validation through randomized controlled trials is recommended to confirm these preliminary results.