Abstract
Aim: To evaluate if transvaginal cervical length measurement in the second-trimester scan is an effective screening test for preterm delivery.
Methods: We performed a search in Medline and, for each selected article, information was extracted regarding the performance of the test in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative likelihood ratios, in low-risk, high-risk, and multiple gestations. We also evaluated the performance of the combined test (more than one sonographic marker).
Results: A positive relationship was established between short cervix and preterm delivery in all articles. The majority of studies presented high specificity and positive likelihood ratio, while sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio were variable and globally poor. Better values of accuracy were found in high-risk and multiple gestations and, in all studied subgroups, for preterm delivery at lower gestational ages.
Conclusions: We conclude that a short cervix is predictive of preterm delivery and can identify women that may benefit from preventive and therapeutic measures, however, a negative result is not always reassuring.
References
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The authors stated that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.
©2013 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Academy’s Corner – a new section at JPM
- Academy’s Corner
- Global education in perinatal medicine: will the bureaucracy or smartocracy prevail?
- Review articles
- Placental chorioangioma: literature review
- Sonographic measurement of cervical length as a predictor of preterm delivery: a systematic review
- Original articles – Obstetrics
- Peripartum anesthetic management of patients with Factor XI deficiency
- Risk of inferior vena cava compression syndrome during fetal MRI in the supine position – a retrospective analysis
- Fetal behavioral states are stable over daytime – evidence by longitudinal and cross-sectional fetal biomagnetic recordings
- Diet or medically treated gestational diabetes: is there any difference for obstetrical and neonatal complications? A French cohort study
- Cerebroplacental Doppler ratio and placental histopathological features in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction
- Placental syndecan-1 and sulphated glycosaminoglycans are decreased in preeclampsia
- Pharmacological anti-thrombotic prophylaxis after elective caesarean delivery in thrombophilia unscreened women: should maternal age have a role in decision making?
- Values of T/QRS ratios measured during normal and post-term pregnancies
- The factors associated with the failure of transcatheter pelvic arterial embolization for intractable postpartum hemorrhage
- Hysteroscopic and laparoscopic management of uterine defects on previous cesarean delivery scars
- Chemerin concentrations in maternal and fetal compartments: implications for metabolic adaptations to normal human pregnancy
- Repetitive administration of acetylcholine receptor agonist rescues brain inflammation and brain damage after hypoxia-ischemia in newborn rat
- Original article – Fetus
- Fetal hydronephrosis: natural history and risk factors for postnatal surgery
- Original article – Newborn
- Cytomegalovirus infection among infants in California neonatal intensive care units, 2005–2010
- Letter to the Editors
- Origin of the long-term variability and acceleration of FHR studied for the prevention of cerebral palsy in fetal hypoxia and general insults
- Neonatal phototherapy, fluids, and photorelaxation
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Academy’s Corner – a new section at JPM
- Academy’s Corner
- Global education in perinatal medicine: will the bureaucracy or smartocracy prevail?
- Review articles
- Placental chorioangioma: literature review
- Sonographic measurement of cervical length as a predictor of preterm delivery: a systematic review
- Original articles – Obstetrics
- Peripartum anesthetic management of patients with Factor XI deficiency
- Risk of inferior vena cava compression syndrome during fetal MRI in the supine position – a retrospective analysis
- Fetal behavioral states are stable over daytime – evidence by longitudinal and cross-sectional fetal biomagnetic recordings
- Diet or medically treated gestational diabetes: is there any difference for obstetrical and neonatal complications? A French cohort study
- Cerebroplacental Doppler ratio and placental histopathological features in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction
- Placental syndecan-1 and sulphated glycosaminoglycans are decreased in preeclampsia
- Pharmacological anti-thrombotic prophylaxis after elective caesarean delivery in thrombophilia unscreened women: should maternal age have a role in decision making?
- Values of T/QRS ratios measured during normal and post-term pregnancies
- The factors associated with the failure of transcatheter pelvic arterial embolization for intractable postpartum hemorrhage
- Hysteroscopic and laparoscopic management of uterine defects on previous cesarean delivery scars
- Chemerin concentrations in maternal and fetal compartments: implications for metabolic adaptations to normal human pregnancy
- Repetitive administration of acetylcholine receptor agonist rescues brain inflammation and brain damage after hypoxia-ischemia in newborn rat
- Original article – Fetus
- Fetal hydronephrosis: natural history and risk factors for postnatal surgery
- Original article – Newborn
- Cytomegalovirus infection among infants in California neonatal intensive care units, 2005–2010
- Letter to the Editors
- Origin of the long-term variability and acceleration of FHR studied for the prevention of cerebral palsy in fetal hypoxia and general insults
- Neonatal phototherapy, fluids, and photorelaxation
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar