ABSTRACT
Aim: To evaluate the role of hysterosalpingoscintigraphy (HSSG) as a tubal patency test and compare it with hysterosalpingography (HSG) in infertile patients. Objectives: To determine tubal patency with hysterosalpingoscintigraphy and test its accuracy as compared to hysterosalpingography; compare pain scale between hysterosalpingoscintigraphy and hysterosalpingography; determine time taken for the radiopharmaceutical to ascend up the genital tract during hysterosalpingoscintigraphy. Design: Prospective study Place: The study was conducted in the University Hospital setting. Patients and methods: HSSG was performed on 30 patients with 1 mCi technetium 99m labelled sulphur colloid. Sequential static images were obtained at 0, 15 minutes and 30 minutes. The results were compared to findings of hysterosalpingography. Results: Out of the 30 cases evaluated, 50% had bilateral patent tubes, 33.33% had unilateral patent tube, and 16.67% had bilateral blocked tubes. Time taken for sulphur colloid to reach uterus was 3 minutes 45 seconds; tubes 10 minutes 32 seconds; ovaries 25 minutes 48 seconds. All patients marked 0 on pain scale after HSSG while after HSG, 16 patients marked 3 and 14 patients marked 4 on pain scale. The sensitivity of HSSG was calculated to be 69.64%, specificity 75%, positive predictive value 97.5% and negative predictive value 15%. Conclusion: HSSG is easy to perform, with no premedication requirement and no pain in procedure with high positive predictive value (97.5%), but a poor negative predictive value (15%). This test can be used as compliment to other tubal patency test in the work up of infertility.