The Value of Transvaginal Ultrasonographic Measurement of Cervical Length for Prediction of Preterm Delivery in Patients with Preterm Labor.

Objective : The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of vaginal ultrasonographic cervical length in prediction of preterm delivery in patients with preterm labor. Methods : One-hundred twenty-nine women in preterm labor at 24-34 weeks of gestation were studied retrospectively. Transvaginal ultrasonography for measurement of cervical length was performed at the time of admission. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, partial correlation coefficient, and multiple logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results : The mean gestational age at admission was 30.22.5 weeks and the mean gestational age at delivery was 35.73.9 weeks. The median admission-to-delivery interval was 864 hours (24-2616). ROC curve analysis showed a significant relationship between cervical length and preterm delivery (area under the curve-0.82, p=0.326, p 2.5 cm was significantly shorter than that in patients with cervical length 2.5 cm. Conclusion : Transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length is a useful predictor of preteen delivery in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes.