The Value of Ultrasound and Doppler in the Assessment of the Morphologit and Vascular Changes of the Corpus Luteum in Cases of Threatened Abortion

Abstract

If fertilization occurs, resulting in embryogenesis, hCG secretion begins to be measurable by approximately 8 days after ovulation. The hCG stimulation rescues the corpus luteum from luteolysis and thus enabling the corpus luteum to continuously secrete progesterone and thus, monitoring the continuity of pregnancy till the 7th week of pregnancy. From the 5th week to the 1Oth week, the corpus luteum is gradually replaced by the placenta.

Transvaginal sonography, with its higher resolution of images, seems more promising in evaluating the morphological features of the C.L. On the average, this technique can detect embryonic or fetal structures one to two weeks earlier than TAS. The embryonic heart beat can be seen by TVS earlier than by TAS, thus confirmation of embryonic viability is possible sooner.

In the present study, endovaginal sonography was performed for 60 pregnant women starting from 6 to 10 weeks menstrual age for the evaluation of morphologic (site, size, growth rate, pattern) and vascular features of C.L. of pregnancy in relation to gestational age in normal pregnancy compared to threatened abortion. Women in this thesis were divided into two groups. The first group included 30 women complaining of threatened miscarriage and were diagnosed by positive embryonic heart rate by TVS, minimal vaginal bleeding, with closed cervix on clinical examination. Normal pregnancy cases (30 women) were diagnosed by positive embryonic heart beat by TVS and no vaginal bleeding.