Quantitative assessment of cervical softening during pregnancy with shear wave elasticity imaging: an in vivo longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT: We report here the results of a longitudinal study of cervix stiffness during pregnancy. Thirty women, ages ranging from 19 to 37 years, were scanned with ultrasound at five time points beginning at their normal first-trimester screening (8-13 weeks) through term pregnancy (nominally 40 week) using a clinical ultrasound imaging system modified with a special ultrasound transducer and system software. The system estimated the shear wave speed (its square proportional to the shear modulus under idealized conditions) in the cervix. We found a constant fractional reduction (about 4% per week) in shear wave speed with increasing gestational age. We also demonstrated a spatial gradient in shear wave speed along the length of the cervix (softest at the distal end). Results were consistent with ou

SUBMITTER: Carlson LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6710662 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature