Quantitative strain elastography of the uterine cervix assessed by the GE Voluson E10 system in combination with a force-measuring device.

Objective: During pregnancy, the stiffness of the cervical tissue decreases long before the cervical length decreases. Therefore, several approaches have been proposed in order to ensure a more objective assessment of cervical stiffness than that achieved by digital evaluation. Strain elastography has shown promising results.

A force-measuring device combined with ultrasound-based elastography for assessment of the uterine cervix.

Introduction: In this feasibility study, we hypothesize that the evaluation of cervical biomechanical strength can be improved if cervical length measurement is supplemented with quantitative elastography, which is a technique based on conventional ultrasound elastography combined with a force-measuring device. Our aims were to: (a) develop a force-measuring device; (b) introduce a cervical elastography index (CEI) and a cervical strength index (CSI; defined as cervical length × CEI); (c) evaluate how these indexes assess the cervical softening that takes place during normal pregnancy; and (d) how these indexes predict the cervical dilatation time from 4 to 10 cm.

Material And Methods: An electronic force-measuring device was mounted on the handle of the transvaginal probe, allowing for force measurement when conducting elastography.

Second-trimester fetal head circumference in more than 350 000 pregnancies: Outcome and suggestion for sex-dependent cutoffs for small heads.

Objective: To explore the relationship between small fetal second-trimester head circumference (HC) and pregnancy outcome and identify a cutoff point for offering genetic testing.

Method: Data from second-trimester scans in Denmark were linked to national registers. Fetuses with anomalies diagnosed before this scan were excluded.

Human papillomavirus infects placental trophoblast and Hofbauer cells, but appears not to play a causal role in miscarriage and preterm labor.

Introduction: Recently, an association between human papillomavirus infection and both spontaneous abortion and spontaneous preterm delivery was suggested. However, the reported human papillomavirus prevalence in pregnant women varies considerably and reliable conclusions are difficult. We aimed to investigate human papillomavirus infection in placental tissue of a Danish study cohort.