Issue: Vol.83 (No. 10)

Value of three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in assessing prognosis of lauromacrogol sclerotherapy for cesarean scar pregnancy

Authors:
Jian Xu

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Background/Aim. When cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is diagnosed, it is proposed in clinical practice to remove the pregnancy tissue as soon as possible. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) has higher diagnostic value for CSP compared to three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography (3D-TVUS). The aim of the study was to assess the efficiency of combining 3D-TVUS with CEUS in the prognosis of lauromacrogol sclerotherapy (LSC) for CSP. Methods. The study included patients with CSP admitted to our hospital and treated with LSC from January 2023 to January 2024 (CSP group, n = 150), and women with normal pregnancy after cesarean section (normal pregnancy group, n = 150). The CSP group was additionally divided into good and poor prognosis groups. Both groups received 3D-TVUS and CEUS, with quantitative parameters measured [3D-TVUS parameters: vascular index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascular FI (VFI)]. CEUS parameters included the area under the time-intensity curve (AUCTIC), arrival time (AT), time to peak (TTP), and peak intensity (PI). Results. After treatment, both CSP and normal pregnancy groups exhibited significant decreases in VI, FI, VFI, PI, and AUCTIC, alongside a significant increase in TTP compared with baseline (p < 0.05). Conversely, compared with the good prognosis CSR group, the poor prognosis CSR group demonstrated higher VI, FI, VFI, PI, and AUCTIC, as well as a shorter TTP, both before and after treatment (p < 0.05). The combined parameters of 3D-TVUS and CEUS showed the best predictive performance of LSC prognosis in CSP, significantly outperforming any single parameter. Conclusion. A considerable proportion of patients with CSP had poor short-term prognosis after LSC. Pretreatment 3D-TVUS and CEUS parameters may help in the early evaluation of short-term prognosis.