Sonographic Assessment of Endometrial Thickness and Endometrial Patterns in Ectopic Pregnancy: A New Perspective

Ectopic pregnancy occurs during the first three months of pregnancy which leads to extensive mortality and disability. Early diagnosis and treatment of this type of pregnancy may be helpful in prevention and reducing its complications. This study was performed with aim to evaluate the endometrial thickness and sonographic endometrial patterns in ectopic pregnancy.

This case-control study was conducted on 179 patients (91 women with normal increase of serial βHCG and diagnosis of normal pregnancy and 88 with abnormal increase of serial βHCG and diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy) with positive pregnancy result and vaginal bleeding with or without abdominal pain at first trimester of pregnancy in Al-Zahra educational hospital, Rasht from March 20, 2016 to September 22, 2017. Patients underwent vaginal sonography by a gynecologist to rule out the ectopic pregnancy. Endometrial thickness and patterns were evaluated. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 17), and student t-test, and Chi-squared test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

In normal and ectopic pregnancy groups, endometrial pattern was homogeneous hyperechoic, heterogeneous hyperechoic and three-layered. Based on the results of student t-test, no significant difference was observed between endometrial ultrasound patterns in two groups (p>0.05). Mean endometrial thickness in normal pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy groups were 14.8±3.1 mm and 8.2±4.9 mm, respectively which was significantly higher in normal pregnancy group than ectopic pregnancy group (p<0.0001).

Use of endometrial thickness may be helpful as a diagnostic tool in ectopic pregnancy. Use of sonographic endometrial pattern has a low diagnostic value in distinguishing ectopic pregnancy from normal pregnancy.