3D power Doppler ultrasound characteristics of the corpus luteum and early pregnancy outcome

Objective: to assess the relationship of corpus luteum morphology and vascularity by 3 dimensional power Doppler ultrasound and the pregnancy outcome in early pregnancy. Design: prospective observational cohort study. Setting: Zagazig University Hospital. Materials and methods: this is a prospective observational cohort study of thirty six pregnant patients examined by two dimensional and three dimensional transvaginal sonography for corpus luteum volume, echostructure and corpus luteum vascularization index in the period after documentation of fetal heart activity and nine weeks. Results: there were 36 study women, ultrasound morphologic features of corpus luteum: volume ranged from 0.91 to 42.8 ml with median of 6.85, vascularization index ranged from 0.05 to 23.8 with a median of 6.85, echostructure was cystic in 12 women (33.3%), hemorrhagic in 18 (50%) and solid in 6 women (16.7%). The relation between CL volume and pregnancy outcome was significant (p-value was 0.02), being smaller in group of missed abortion. The relation between CL VI and pregnancy outcome was non significant (p-value was 0.229). The relation between CL echostructure and pregnancy outcome was highly significant (p-value was 0.009). The prognosis was worst in group of solid echostructure. Conclusion: the corpus luteum volume and echostructure assessed by 3D power Doppler ultrasound have statistical relationship with the early pregnancy outcome.