Anterior uterocervical angle on ultrasound in singleton pregnancies - a predictor of spontaneous pre-term birth
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71152/ajms.v16i8.4618Keywords:
Pre-term birth; Cervical length measurement; Labor; Pre-mature; UltrasonographyAbstract
Background: The success of labor induction is strongly influenced by the condition of the cervix. The uterocervical angle (UCA), found where the cervical canal meets the lower uterine segment has recently emerged as a promising ultrasound indicator for predicting pre-term birth (PTB).
Aims and Objectives: This research focused on assessing the anterior uterocervical angle in singleton pregnancies between 16 and 24 weeks of gestation using transvaginal ultrasound, and explored its relationship with gestational age at delivery to evaluate its potential as an indicator of spontaneous PTB.
Materials and Methods: Using transvaginal ultrasound, pregnant women with singleton gestations who visited the antenatal clinic at MMIMSR between 16 and 24 weeks were assessed for their anterior uterocervical angle. These participants were monitored through delivery to record their gestational age at birth.
Results: UCA values >105.60° had 66.7% sensitivity and 87.3% specificity for late pre-term detection. UCA >105.6° had 73.7% sensitivity and 12.7% specificity for predicting both early and late PTBs.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that assessing the anterior uterocervical angle (UCA) could serve as a dependable method for identifying the risk of pre-term labor in expectant mothers.
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