French fetal biometry: reference equations and comparison with other charts.

OBJECTIVES: To construct new reference charts and equations for fetal biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL), using a large sample of fetuses examined at 15-40 weeks in France, and to compare them with previous references. METHODS: The study data were obtained over a continuous 1-year period from a population of pregnant women undergoing ultrasound examination. Excluded were those with a known abnormal karyotype or congenital malformation, multiple pregnancies, and those with no first-trimester dating based on crown-rump length. No fetuses were excluded on the basis of abnormal biometry or birth weight. For each measurement, separate regression models were fitted to estimate both the mean and the SD at each gestational age. RESULTS: Full biometric measurements were obtained for 19 647 fetuses. New charts and reference equations are reported for BPD, HC, AC and FL. Prediction intervals for the new reference charts were similar to those of previous ones, whereas there were some differences in predicted centiles. CONCLUSION: We present new French reference charts and equations for fetal biometry. They can be used easily to compute centiles and Z-scores to control the quality of biometric assessments and to evaluate their performance relative to other references.

[Endorectal sonography in gynecology: usefulness and diagnostic accuracy]. / Echographie endorectale en gynécologie: indication, faisabilité et pertinence diagnostique.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of endorectal sonography (ERS) in comparison with transabdominal sonography (TAS) in women with a contraindication to endovaginal sonography (EVS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: ERS was proposed to 32 patients in the immediate continuation of TAS. It was performed either with a specific probe or with a vaginal probe. The protocol included a complete evaluation of pelvic structures observed with both sonographic techniques. RESULTS: After counselling and assent, 29 of the 32 patients (90%) accepted ERS. The examination was regarded as complete in 28 cases. ERS confirmed the absence of pelvic anomaly in the 12 cases of normal TAS. ERS modified diagnosis in 5 of the 8 cases of anechoic ovarian cysts seen in TAS. In 4 cases, PCOs not seen in TAS were identified. Two partially sub-mucous myomas not recognized by TAS were diagnosed by ERS. Sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of TAS and ERS were 38,4 and 87,5%, 41,6 and 100%, 50 and 100%, 40 and 85,7% respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings suggest ERS is an effective diagnostic tool in pelvic exploration when EVS cannot be performed. It should be widely proposed after information and assent.

[Preoperative endovaginal ultrasound in the assessment of myometrial invasion of endometrial adenocarcinoma]. / Intérêt de l'échographie endovaginale préopératoire dans l'évaluation de l'infiltration myométriale des adénocarcinomes de l'endomètre.

OBJECTIVE: To determine, according to histological tumor grade, the reliability of preoperative endovaginal ultrasound in the detection of myometrial invasion in patients with stage I endometrial cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one patients with stage I endometrial carcinoma were evaluated with preoperative endovaginal ultrasound compared to postoperative results of pathologic examination, in a six-year retrospective study. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients had a deep myometrial invasion (stage IC). The mean endometrial thickness was 9.5 mm in stage IA, 17.0 mm in stage IB and 20.0 mm in stage IC disease (P = 0.01). The sensitivity and the specificity of the ultrasound in the assessment of myometrial invasion in grade 1 tumors were 100% and 93.7%, respectively. They fell to 69.2% and 88.9% for high-grade tumors. The global accuracy of ultrasound was 82%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The performance of preoperative ultrasound varies according to the literature. The association of morphological and morphometric criteria enables an increase in the sensitivity of the exam. In grade 1 tumors, the preoperative endovaginal ultrasound could help in identifying a group of patients at low risk of lymph node metastasis for which a pelvic lymphadenectomy would be avoidable.

[Biometry 2000. Fetal growth charts by the French College of fetal ultrasonography and the Inserm U 155]. / Biométrie 2000. Tables de croissance foetale par le Collège français d'échographie foetale (CFEF) et l'Inserm U 155.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of Biometry 2000 was to establish reliable sonographic fetal auxology reference charts for biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal diameter, abdominal circumference and femur length. DESIGN: A prospective multicentric longitudinal and transversal study was carried out. SUBJECTS: The data of this study were obtained from 35,456 scans recorded in 10,043 women for a period of one year. METHODS: Sonographic measurements were performed using a single method for each parameter. Twins and unknown gestational ages were not included. No exclusions were made for small-for-age, congenital malformations or any event during pregnancy. Assuming measurements have a normal distribution, centiles were calculated after polynomial regression models from mean and standard deviation according to gestational age in exact weeks from last menstrual period. RESULTS: A total of 32,584 fetal biparietal diameters, 20,400 direct cephalic circumferences, 31,790 transverse abdominal diameters, 21,562 direct abdominal circumferences and 30,960 femur lengths were obtained. Fetal growth charts with means, standard deviations and centiles are presented. CONCLUSION: The multicentric study, Biometry 2000, has established sonographic fetal charts derived from a large sample of scans and unselected pregnant women assuming a normal distribution.

[Treatment of ovarian cysts by laparoscopy]. / Traitement des kystes de l'ovaire par coelioscopie.

OBJECTIVE: to define limits, risks and results in the long term of laparoscopic treatment of ovarian tumors. METHOD: retrospective study of adnexal tumors managed initially by laparoscopy from January 1986 to December 1992, among which 9 cancers, 25 borderline tumors, and 769 benign lesions. The ultrasonographic appearance was known for 698 of 803 lesions. 86 patients were postmenopausal (92 lesions). RESULTS: we treated 191 functional cysts, 160 serous cystadenomas, 178 endometriomas, 105 dermoid cysts, 39 mucinous cystadenomas and 96 miscellaneous lesions among which fibrothecomas, paraadnexal cysts, ovarian pregnancies, ovarian abscess. There is a great diversity of ultrasonographic patterns for a same histological type, specially for functional cysts and borderline tumors. Laparoscopic exploration has misdiagnosed two cancers and 10 borderline tumors and considered wrongly as suspects 19 benign lesions. 714 procedures have been led to term by laparoscopy, 89 have been ended by laparotomy, 26 for suspicion of malignancy and 50 for dissection failure. 27 postoperative complications have been counted among which 2 grafts on trocard sites after non protected extraction of one dermoid cyst and one borderline tumor. CONCLUSION: ultrasonographic appearance could not predict reliably the organic or functional nor benign or malignant character of an adnexal mass. Even careful laparoscopic examination can underestimate early stage ovarian cancer or borderline tumors. When diagnosed during or after laparoscopic procedure an ovarian cancer should always be managed by laparotomy. On the other hand, some borderline tumors can be treated by exclusive laparoscopy. When malignancy is suspected, an adnexectomy can be performed laparoscopically as a biopsy and allows a quick and appropriate treatment after paraffin-embedded sections. Both intraperitoneal and transparietal techniques have a minimal morbidity and allow a feasibility of more than 90%. The management of postmenopausal ovarian tumors differs only by the use of systematic oophorectomy if surgical procedure is indicated.

Transvaginal intratubal methotrexate treatment of ectopic pregnancy. Report of 100 cases.

Between November 1988 and December 1993, 100 patients with a common, unruptured ectopic pregnancy were treated with 1 mg/kg injection of intratubal methotrexate under transvaginal sonographic control. Patients were not excluded from this series on the basis of the size of the adnexal mass, the term of ectopic pregnancy or initial beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) concentrations. Patients were excluded following uncertain diagnosis, signs of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, or a significant haemoperitoneum on ultrasound scans. The mean age of the patients was 29.5 years (range 20-41). The mean gestational age and initial HCG concentration were 7.5 weeks (5-11) and 11,614 mIU/ml (192-105,000 respectively). Of the 100 patients, 22 (22%) had an ectopic pregnancy with active cardiac activity. Complete resolution was obtained in 78 out of these 100 ectopic pregnancies. Of these, 66 patients (85%) needed only one intratubal methotrexate injection, and 12 patients (15%) required a second i.m. methotrexate injection of 1 mg/kg. In this study, local treatment with one single intratubal methotrexate injection was successful in only 66% of patients. The mean resolution time for reduction of beta-HCG concentrations was 23.5 days (range 7-40). There was no statistically significant correlation between initial beta-HCG concentrations and outcomes after methotrexate treatment of ectopic pregnancy in our study. Where embryonal heart beats were observed, the success rate of the procedure was 40.9% (nine out of 22 cases). In the absence of cardiac activity, or when ultrasound examination showed no embryo, the success rate achieved was 84.6% (66 out of 78 cases) (P < 0.01). In all, 34 patients were considered to be incompletely cured after only one intratubal methotrexate injection: 12 patients required a second i.m. injection, a stagnation of beta-HCG concentrations was observed in 15 patients, abdominal pain occurred in six patients, and one patient suffered tubal rupture with haemoperitoneum. A total of 22 patients required secondary surgical management (salpingectomy). No biochemical or clinical side-effects of methotrexate treatment occurred. Tubal alteration ascribable to methotrexate injection occurred in one patient in our study. Out of 75 patients in this series who wished to conceive, 21 (28%) became pregnant within 1 year with the following outcomes: 11 pregnancies at term, three miscarriages, one induced abortion and six recurrent ectopic pregnancies (four occurred on the same side). Our findings suggest that treatment of common unruptured ectopic pregnancy without prior selection of patients, by a single intratubal methotrexate administration was associated with a 66% success rate. This was dependent only on the presence of embryonal heart beats and there was no correlation between the success rate and initial beta-HCG concentrations. Successful outcome after methotrexate administration for ectopic pregnancy could be perfected by way of an improved selection of patients based on inactive embryonal hearts and absence of a visualized embryo.

[Thyroid ultrasonography and infertility]. / Echographie thyroïdienne et infertilité.

In about 60% of infertile women, clinical or subclinical thyroid disorders can be diagnosed, and specific treatment provides significant improvements of fertility. Sonographic thyroid examination is easily performed and can detect thyroid abnormalities. So it's well-founded to say that it should be included in female infertility investigations.

[Ectopic pregnancy: criteria to choose therapy]. / Grossesse extra-utérine: critères du choix thérapeutique.

The ectopic pregnancy (EP) could be treated by spontaneous resolution, or medical treatment or laparoscopic treatment. Spontaneous resolution of EP with beta hCG < 1,000 mUl/ml, plasmatic progesterone < 5 ng/ml had 74% success rate. Methotrexate (MTX) injection is the common Medical treatment of EP with beta hCG < or = 5,000 mUl/ml and mean diameter of EP < or = 3 cm: a single dose of 50 mg/m2 or 1 mg/kg intramuscular injection had 93.4% success rate; local injection under sonographic control (1 mg/kg) had 80.2% success rate. The surgical conservative treatment by laparoscopy had 94% success rate.

[Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and thrombosis. Apropos of a case of thrombosis of the internal jugular vein. Review of the literature]. / Syndrome d'hyperstimulation ovarienne et thrombose. A propos d'un cas de thrombose de la veine jugulaire interne. Revue de la littérature.

Thrombosis of the internal jugular vein was associated with a severe syndrome of ovarian hyperstimulation. After in vitro fertilization, a twin pregnancy was obtained in a 31-year-old patient with severe endometriosis. On the day of follicle collection, plasma oestradiol was 3050 mg/ml. Ten ovocytes were collected and 3 embryos were implanted. A syndrome of severe ovarian hyperstimulation (ascites, pleural effusion) developed 3 weeks later and symptomatic treatment was given. Phlebitis of the upper left limb was diagnosed at 9 weeks amenorrhoea and echo-Doppler confirmed the diagnosis of subclavian and internal jugular venous thrombosis. Search for a cause was negative excepting a frank drop in protein S activity to 35%. Post-partum assay and assay in family members confirmed that the deficiency was acquired during pregnancy. The clinical course was favourable with anticoagulant therapy (heparin, then low-molecular weight heparin). Intra-uterine death of one of the fetuses occurred at 21 weeks amenorrhoea and a 2,550 g girl was born by vaginal delivery at 36 weeks. The Apgar score at birth was 10/10. In a review of the literature on vascular events in fertilization, programmes showed that severe syndromes of ovarian hyperstimulation, endogenous hyperestrogenism, multiple pregnancy and predominance of upper limb are the most frequently observed criteria. We emphasize the importance of preventing these thromboembolic events with subcutaneous heparin during the first trimester of pregnancy followed by low-molecular weight heparin, particularly in patients with a history of thromboembolism and/or patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation.

[Ethnic predisposition of the severity of HELLP syndrome. Retrospective study of 12 cases including 5 during post-partum]. / Prédisposition ethnique de la sévérité du HELLP syndrome. Etude rétrospective de 12 cas dont 5 survenus en post-partum.

HELLP syndrome is characterized by association of haemolysis (H), elevated liver enzymes (EL), and low platelets (LP). From 1989 to 1991, we studied retrospectively 12 cases of HELLP syndrome cases that occurred during the third trimester for 7 cases and during post-partum for 5 cases. 83% of patients (10/12) were black people (African or Creole). The most frequent sign of HELLP syndrome during pre- and post-partum was epigastric or dorsal pain, present in 91% of the cases (11/12) and in all cases of preeclampsia. Aggressive treatment was always performed, leading to 12 births: 7 of the 12 children were hypotrophic for gestational age. There were no maternal or neonatal deaths. Post-partum HELLP syndrome occurred 28.8 hours (mean) after delivery. Whether HELLP syndrome occurred during pre- or post-partum, laboratory findings returned to normal levels after equivalent delays: platelets 57 hours, ASAT 68 hours and ALAT 65 hours.

[Evaluation of intra-uterine pathology and tubal patency by contrast echography]. / Evaluation de la pathologie endo-utérine et de la perméabilité tubaire par échographie de contraste.

The contrast ultrasonography (CUS) is a new development of the pelvis ultrasounds. A contrast medium is injected through the cervix and is screened through the uterine cavity, the tubes and the peritoneal cavity. The contrast medium creates a new acoustic interface which improve the quality of the ultrasound imaging and the ability to diagnose endouterine pathologies. Further, tubal patency may be assessed by tracking fluid into the pouch of Douglas. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, the accuracy and the side effects of this technique when compared with the conventional procedures. Included were two groups of patients: the group 1 (10 cases) was of patients with menometrorrhagia before undergoing an hysteroscopy; the group II (11 cases) was of infertile patients before undergoing a laparoscopic tubal patency test. This technique, of low cost and without any radiation exposure, seems to be at least as accurate as the conventional methods for the intrauterine diagnostics. It is less effectiveness for the evaluation of the tubal patency. No side effect occurred in this study.

[Treatment with methotrexate of 4 interstitial, unruptured pregnancies]. / Traitement par le méthotrexate de quatre grossesses interstitielles non rompues.

Successful treatment of four, non ruptured, cases of interstitial pregnancy are reported. Treatment consisted of in situ injection of methotrexate during coelioscopy. Dosage was 1.5 mg methotrexate per kilogram body weight. Negative plasma beta hCG levels were obtained 9 to 22 days after conservative medical treatment. No clinical or biochemical side effects were observed. Of two patients had no radiologically demonstrable cornual abnormality on the hysterosalpingographies effected at the 3 months evaluation after ascertained interstitial pregnancy, one have normal pregnancy. Two further patients had normal uneventful pregnancies 12 to 15 months later. Treatment of interstitial pregnancy by way of one in situ injection of methotrexate seems to be the currently preferred alternative to classical surgery.

[Urodynamic ultrasonography in the management of urinary disorders in women]. / L'échographie urodynamique dans le bilan des troubles urinaires chez la femme.

The authors report the preliminary results of a study on the use of perineal sonography with a vaginal probe as a complement to urodynamic investigation, in patients with stress urinary incontinence or other urinary symptoms. This technique seems useful especially in stress urinary incontinence to precise the existence and the importance of bladder neck hypermobility, and in the evaluation of post-opérative outcome after surgical suspension of the bladder neck.

[Screening for ovarian cancers: critical analysis]. / Dépistage des cancers de l'ovaire: analyse critique.

The ovarian cancers have a low incidence rate and a high mortality rate mainly due to a late diagnosis. The potential value of ultrasonography and measurements of tumour associated markers to detect early ovarian cancer suggest the interest of a screening strategy. The analysis of the conditions for efficacy of a such screening program, of the predictive values of ultrasonography and tumour associated markers measurements and of the results of preliminary studies does not confirm on a rational basis the potential interest of screening strategies.

[Endocystic echography by laparoscopy. 6 preliminary cases]. / Echographie endokystique per-coelioscopique. Six cas préliminaires.

The decision whether to ablate an ovarian cyst using the operating laparoscope depends on a whole bundle of clinical, biological, ultrasound and laparoscopic factors. But opening a uni or multi-locular fluid containing cyst and exploring its walls can leave the operator in doubt as to whether it is benign, malignant or a borderline lesion. Now it is possible to use 3 mm catheters carrying a rotary ultrasound transducer. When this sound is placed inside a cyst it is possible to study the walls topographically. Six preliminary cases are presented; the increased sensitivity of the pictures obtained by this miniaturised sound make it possible to improve ultrasound diagnosis.