The use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy

Ultrasonography was used to examine 196 cases of suspected ectopic pregnancy. The final diagnosis was established in 185 cases by means of surgical intervention or follow-up. The actual number of ectopic pregnancies was found to be 42, of which 30 (71%) had been correctly diagnosed by ultrasound. There was a false negative rate of 29%. Of the group of 185 patients followed up, a false positive diagnosis had been made in six cases (4.2%). On the basis of these results, we conclude that, while ultrasonography offers significant help when a non-invasive diagnostic method for ectopic is desired, it is not yet, in spite of the present level of technical development, a completely reliable method in such cases.