Transvaginal ultrasound scan versus laparoscopy in the diagnosis of suspected ectopic pregnancy

This is a prospective study comparing the performance of transvaginal ultrasound scan with laparoscopy as the last diagnostic tool in a clinically suspected ectopic pregnancy. Both diagnostic methods have the same sensitivity of 100%. Transvaginal ultrasound scan had a specificity of 73.7% and a pos...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of obstetrics and gynaecology Vol. 21; no. 2; p. 184
Main Authors Chama, C M, Obed, J Y, Ekanem, I A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 2001
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Summary:This is a prospective study comparing the performance of transvaginal ultrasound scan with laparoscopy as the last diagnostic tool in a clinically suspected ectopic pregnancy. Both diagnostic methods have the same sensitivity of 100%. Transvaginal ultrasound scan had a specificity of 73.7% and a positive predictive value of 89.8%. Laparoscopy had a specificity of 84.8% and a positive predictive value of 94.6%. The use of laparoscopy could avoid laparotomy in only 3.4% of patients. Since transvaginal ultrasound scan is easier, safer and cheaper than laparoscopy, more emphasis should be laid on its use in our environment than laparoscopy.
ISSN:0144-3615
DOI:10.1080/01443610020026173