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Early embryonic morphology sonographically assessed and its correlation with yolk sac in missed abortion

  • Reproductive Medicine
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Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To provide additional information about embryo morphology sonographic assessment and its correlation with yolk sac.

Methods

A systematic study in 200 consecutive cases of missed abortion <10 weeks diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound.

Results

In 104 gestations of embryos with morphological abnormalities, 88 (84.6 %) were at least 1 week smaller than expected for gestational age and 16 (15.4 %) were the expected size. From 32 normal morphologic embryos, 7 (21.9 %) were at least 1 week smaller than expected for gestational age, and 25 (78.1 %) were the expected size (p < 0.005). Normal morphologic embryos are linked more frequently with normal yolk sac (62.5 %). Findings in anembryonic gestations (GD1) included an absent yolk sac (46.9 %) and a cystic yolk sac (25 %). Likewise, findings in GD2-3 embryos included more frequently a cystic yolk sac (42.9 %) and an absent yolk sac (32.5 %). GD4 embryos are associated with an echogenic yolk sac (40 %), a relatively small-hypoplastic- (40 %) and a relatively large-cystic- (20 %). In DI embryos, yolk sac appears cystic (62.5 %) or echogenic (37.5 %).

Conclusions

Our study proves the correlation between morphology of conceptuses and yolk sac appearance in cases of missed abortion.

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Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Madrid s/n, 18014, Granada, Spain

    Alberto Salamanca, Purificación Fernández-Salmerón, Estanislao Beltrán, Nicolás Mendoza, Jesús Florido & Juan Mozas

Authors
  1. Alberto Salamanca
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  2. Purificación Fernández-Salmerón
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  3. Estanislao Beltrán
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  4. Nicolás Mendoza
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  5. Jesús Florido
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  6. Juan Mozas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan Mozas.

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Salamanca, A., Fernández-Salmerón, P., Beltrán, E. et al. Early embryonic morphology sonographically assessed and its correlation with yolk sac in missed abortion. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 139–142 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2499-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2499-8

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