Background: Retained products of conception can be troublesome complications following miscarriages. Ultrasound has a significant impact in their diagnosis and with the advent of color doppler sonography can improve the assessment. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the use of grayscale combined with color Doppler ultrasound findings and correlate with histopathology in predicting retained products of conception in a maternity hospital. Methods: This was a cross sectional prospective study of 109 patients who underwent transvaginal grayscale ultrasound with color Doppler to evaluate the presence of retained products of conception. Resistance index(RI) is measured in Pulsed doppler to assess the impedance of blood flow. The standard criterion was the histopathologic reports obtained during completion curettage. Results: Histopathologic results validated the presence of immature placental tissues in 93 (85%) patients and decidua in 16 (15%). Endometrial mass was greater with positive histopath results (p<0.05). Endometrial mass had a sensitivity of 83.9% in detecting retained products of conception. Thickened endometrium was detected in 71.4 % of women with positive histopath results, but only in 28.6% with negative histopath results. Color flow was confirmed in 85% with positive histopathology results. Conclusion The combination of an endometrial mass with vascular pattern had the highest positive predictive value in determining retained products of conception.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Decidua ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether natural killer (NK) cell and autoimmune antibody acts synergistically, by the action of autoantibodies to increase NK cell number and cytotoxicity, to decrease uterine blood flow during early pregnancy in pregnant women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). METHODS: Seventy-five pregnant women (between 5 and 7 weeks gestation) with a history of unexplained RSA were included in the study group. Forty-one pregnant women without a history of RSA were included as controls. All women with a history of RSA were tested for autoantibodies and number of peripheral blood natural killer (pbNK) cell by flow cytometry. Study populations were stratified into four groups by existence of autoantibody and degree of increase of pbNK cells. The uterine radial artery resistance index (RI) was measured by color-pulsed Doppler transvaginal ultrasound. RESULTS: The mean RI of the autoimmune antibody-positive (AA+) group (0.63+/-0.09) was significantly higher than that of the normal control group (0.53+/-0.10, P=0.001). The mean RI of the AA+/only-NK elevated (eNK) group (0.63+/-0.09) was significantly higher than those of the only-AA+ group (0.55+/-0.07, P=0.019) and the only-eNK group (0.57+/-0.07, P=0.021). CONCLUSION: Concurrent elevation in NK cells and autoimmunity results in decreased uterine blood flow during early pregnancy. However, the majority of cases of RSA remain unexplained and larger scale studies are needed to confirm our conclusion and to develop diagnostic and therapeutic plans for women with a history of RSA.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmunity* ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Radial Artery ; Ultrasonography

Early fetal growth delay and early oligohydramnios have been suspected as signs of embryonal jeopardy. However, little information is available for the prediction of early abortion. Sonographic examination of 111 early pregnancies between the sixth and ninth gestational week with regular, 28 day menstrual cycles was performed to investigate predictable sonographic findings of early abortion. Sonographic measurements of the gestational sac (G-SAC), crown-rump length (CRL) and fetal heart rate (FHR) were performed using a linear array real time transducer with Doppler. All measurements of 17 early abortions were compared to those of 94 normal pregnancies to investigate the objective rules for the screening of early abortion. Most of the early aborted pregnancies were classified correctly by discriminant analysis with G-SAC and CRL (G-SAC = 0.5222 CRL + 14.6673 = 0.5 CRL + 15, sensitivity 76.5% specificity 96.8%). With the addition of FHR, 94.1% of early abortions could be predicted. In conclusion, sonographic findings of early intrauterine growth retardation, early oligohydromnios and bradycardia can be predictable signs for the poor prognosis of early pregnancies.
Abortion, Spontaneous/*ultrasonography ; Adult ; Discriminant Analysis ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation/ultrasonography ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Time Factors ; *Ultrasonography, Prenatal

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness and safety of medical treatment with sublingual misoprostol (MS) in the 1st trimester miscarriage under the approval by Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) for off-label usage by the single medical center in Korea. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in one institution between April 2013 and June 2016. Ninety-one patients diagnosed with miscarriage before 14 weeks of gestation and wanted to try medical treatment were included. A detailed ultrasound scan was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Patients took 600 microgram (mcg) of MS sublingually at initial dose, and repeated the same dose 4–6 hours apart. Successful medical abortion was defined as spontaneous expulsion of gestational products (including gestational sac, embryo, fetus, and placenta). If gestational products were not expelled, surgical evacuation was performed at least 24 hours later from the initial dose. Information about side effects was obtained by medical records. RESULTS: About two-thirds of patients had a successful outcome. The median interval time from pill to expulsion was 18 hours in the successful medical treatment group. There was no serious systemic side effect or massive vaginal bleeding. Presence or absence of vaginal spotting before diagnosis of miscarriage, uterine leiomyomas, subchorionic hematoma, or distorted shape of gestational sac on ultrasound scan were not statistically different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Medical treatment with sublingual MS can be a proper option for the 1st trimester miscarriage, especially for the patient who want to avoid surgical procedure. We can reduce the unnecessary sedation or surgical intervention in the patients with the 1st trimester miscarriage.
Abortion, Incomplete ; Abortion, Missed ; Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Administration, Sublingual ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fetus ; Gestational Sac ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Korea* ; Leiomyoma ; Medical Records ; Metrorrhagia ; Misoprostol* ; Off-Label Use* ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between increased nuchal translucency (NT) and abnormal pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: From January 1999 to December 2001, The 298 fetuses of increased nuchal translucency (>or=2.5 mm) in period of 10-14 weeks gestation were reviewed retrospectively. Amniocentesis and high resolution ultrasonography during second trimester were done for all cases. We analyzed septation within NT, karyotypes, structural anomalies, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as spontaneous abortion, intrauterine fetal death and preterm delivery. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 30.5 +/- 3.5 years. The mean gestational age and CRL were 12.5 +/- 0.95 weeks and 6.5 +/- 1.15 mm. We observed 18 (6%) cases of abnormal karyotypes. 7/46 (15.2%) fetuses with internal septation had abnormal karyotype and 11/252 (4.4%) fetuses without internal septation had abnormal karyotype (p=0.013). Among the 280 fetuses with normal karyotype, 8 (2.8%) fetuses had structural anomalies and 18 (6.4%) fetuses had adverse pregnancy outcomes. The chromosomal abnormality and structural anomaly were significantly increased in the group of nuchal translucency thickness above 3.5 mm (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Increased nuchal translucency is related with chromosomal abnormality and abnormal pregnancy outcomes.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Amniocentesis ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

Chromosomal abnormalities are higher in twin gestations than in the singleton population. Turner's syndrome(gonadal dysgenesis) variety may result from chromosome loss during gametogenesis in either parent or a mitotic error during one of the early cleavage divisions of the fertilized zygote. The vast majority of 45, XO conceptions result in first or second-trimester miscarriage. Fetuses with Tumer's syndrome commonly exhibit posterior nuchal cystic hygromas and generalized edema. Recently we experienced one fetal demise in twin pregnancy. The affected fetus was associated with Turner's syndrome which was diagnosed by amniocentesis and karyotyping. The fetus was associated with cystic hygroma which was antenatally diagnosed by ultrasonogram. The unaffected fetus had normal karyotype and was delivered through cesarean section without any abnormalities. we report this case with brief review of literatures.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Amniocentesis ; Cesarean Section ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Edema ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fetus ; Gametogenesis ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Karyotyping ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Parents ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Turner Syndrome ; Ultrasonography ; Zygote

Ovarian torsion is the fifth most common condition in gynecologic surgical emergencies, with an incidence of 2.7% occuring mainly in women of reproductive age. It is an uncommon but well recognized complication of ovarian stimulation, especially when ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome occurs. Patients with ovarian torsion normally present with an acute abdomen, necessitating an exploratory laparotomy, with removal of the organ when necrosis is evident. Ultrasound may suggest the diagnosis of adnexal torsion. If the ovarian tumor is a luteal cyst, it is also standard to administer progesterone after surgical treatment, although how efficient this treatment is in preventing miscarriage is questionable. A documented case of adnexal torsion associated with in vitro fertilization is hyperstimulated enlarged corpus luteal cyst. Emergency left salpingo-oophorectomy was done and have concluded a successful pregnancy after exogenous progesterone support. We report a case of enlarged corpus luteal cyst torsion in early pregnancy with a brief review of literatures.
Abdomen, Acute ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparotomy ; Necrosis ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy* ; Progesterone ; Ultrasonography

Trisomy 18, called Edward syndrome, occurs in about 3500-8000 births. It is much more common at conception, with about 95% of cases resulting in spontaneous abortion or stillbirth. Postnatal survival is poor, with the majority of patients dying in early infancy. Characteristic findings include cardiac malformations, mental retardation, growth retardation, a prominent occiput, micrognathia, clenched hands, and rocker-bottom feet, omphalocele. The prenatal sonographic findings of our case include delayed growth, omphalocele, wrist joint fixation, choroid plexus cyst, hydramnios and postnatal gross findings include growth retardation, omphalocele, wirst joint fixation, absence of radius, syndactyly, focal absence of phalanges and flexion deformities of fingers and toes. We report a case of prenatally diagnosed Edward syndrome, which is confirmed by chromosome analysis, with brief review of related literatures.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Choroid Plexus ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fingers ; Foot ; Hand ; Hernia, Umbilical ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Joints ; Parturition ; Polyhydramnios ; Pregnancy ; Radius ; Stillbirth ; Syndactyly ; Toes ; Trisomy ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Wrist Joint

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes of adnexal tumors in pregnancy. METHODS: After review of charts of 51 patients managed at Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 1996 to June 2002, data including clinical findings, treatments and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of pregnant women with adnexal tumors was 28.5 years old and the adnexal tumors were more common in nulliparous pregnant women (74.5%) than parous those. There were asymptomatic or no signs in 40 cases (78.4%), lower abdominal pain in 9 cases (17.6%), vaginal bleeding in 1 case (2.0%) and palpable mass by patient herself in 1 case (2.0%). The surgical treatments were performed at first trimester in 9 cases (19.1%), second trimester in 31 cases (66.0%) and third trimester in 7 cases (14.9%). Postoperative histopathologic diagnoses of adnexal tumors were 22 cases (43.1%) of benign cystic teratoma, 7 cases (13.8%) of functional cyst, 6 cases (11.8%) of serous cystadenoma, 4 cases (7.8%) of mucinous cystadenoma, 4 cases (7.8%) of endometrioma, 3 cases (5.9%) of parovarian cyst and 4 cases (7.8%) of malignancy including 2 cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and 2 cases of mucinous tumor, borderline. The complication resulting from adnexal tumors was torsion of 6 cases (11.8%). The outcome of pregnancy was available in 30 cases, term delivery in 25 cases (83.3%), preterm delivery in 3 cases (10%) and spontaneous abortion in 2 cases (6.7%). CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of adnexal tumors with pregnancy is variable according to the reports, the detection rate is more and more increasing due to a widespread application of ultrasound. Thus, obstetricians must always consider adnexal tumors combined with pregnancy and try to minimize the complications of surgery during pregnancy to prevent adverse fetal outcome and maternal morbidity.
Abdominal Pain ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mucins ; Parovarian Cyst ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Teratoma ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes of adnexal tumors in pregnancy. METHODS: After review of charts of 51 patients managed at Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 1996 to June 2002, data including clinical findings, treatments and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of pregnant women with adnexal tumors was 28.5 years old and the adnexal tumors were more common in nulliparous pregnant women (74.5%) than parous those. There were asymptomatic or no signs in 40 cases (78.4%), lower abdominal pain in 9 cases (17.6%), vaginal bleeding in 1 case (2.0%) and palpable mass by patient herself in 1 case (2.0%). The surgical treatments were performed at first trimester in 9 cases (19.1%), second trimester in 31 cases (66.0%) and third trimester in 7 cases (14.9%). Postoperative histopathologic diagnoses of adnexal tumors were 22 cases (43.1%) of benign cystic teratoma, 7 cases (13.8%) of functional cyst, 6 cases (11.8%) of serous cystadenoma, 4 cases (7.8%) of mucinous cystadenoma, 4 cases (7.8%) of endometrioma, 3 cases (5.9%) of parovarian cyst and 4 cases (7.8%) of malignancy including 2 cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and 2 cases of mucinous tumor, borderline. The complication resulting from adnexal tumors was torsion of 6 cases (11.8%). The outcome of pregnancy was available in 30 cases, term delivery in 25 cases (83.3%), preterm delivery in 3 cases (10%) and spontaneous abortion in 2 cases (6.7%). CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of adnexal tumors with pregnancy is variable according to the reports, the detection rate is more and more increasing due to a widespread application of ultrasound. Thus, obstetricians must always consider adnexal tumors combined with pregnancy and try to minimize the complications of surgery during pregnancy to prevent adverse fetal outcome and maternal morbidity.
Abdominal Pain ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mucins ; Parovarian Cyst ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Teratoma ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage