A new technique to test tubal patency under transvaginal sonographic control

Since 1990 we have undertaken a trial to evaluate if TVS, even without contrast media, could diagnose tubal patency.

A detailed description of the technique is given. Two hundred and seventy-three patients underwent sonosalpingography in our department in the period 1990-1993. The sonographic findings were matched in 43 cases to hysterosalpingography and in 55 cases to laparoscopy.

Tubal patency was demonstrated in 218 patients (80.5%), monolateral patency in 41 (15.1%) patients and bilateral tubal occlusion in 12 (4.4%) patients. In the 43 patients undergoing hysterosalpingography, discordance between the two examinations was observed in five cases (11.6%). However, only six out of 86 salpinxes had different results (6.9%). In only one case was total discordance observed. In three out of four other cases the difference was due to patency diagnosed at SSG and occlusion at HSG. Of the 55 patients undergoing laparoscopy 12 cases (21.8%) had discordant results. Complete discordance was observed in two cases while in ten cases one salpinx had a different patency report. The discordance goes to 12.7% when we take into account all the salpinxes evaluated.

Sonosalpingography gives very similar results to hysterosalpingography and may be used on clinical basis for tubal patency evaluation.