Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35049047›Full record

ArticleActa obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica2022

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

Christine Rohr Thomsen, Maria Strandbo Schmidt Jensen, Anne Katrine Leonhard, Tanja Østerlund Mortensen, Pinar Bor, Puk Sandager, Mogens Hinge, Niels Uldbjerg

Open access · diamondAbstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Recommendations for strain elastography of the uterine cervix.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Christine Rohr ThomsenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5295-6923
Maria Strandbo Schmidt JensenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0326-2973
Anne Katrine LeonhardDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7453-6233
Tanja Østerlund MortensenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4227-4002
Pinar BorDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Randers Regional Hospital, Randers, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5841-5418
Puk SandagerDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7153-7081
Mogens HingeDepartment of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8787-5314
Niels UldbjergDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6449-6426
Aarhus University Hospital · DKAarhus University · DKRegional Hospital Randers · DK

Funding

Aase og Ejnar Danielsen Foundation 20-10-0064Health Research Fund of Central Denmark Region R5-A97-B91Randers Regional Hospital, Research UnitThe A.P. Møller Foundation for the Advancement of Medical Science 17-L-0289The Dagmar Marshall's FoundationThe Solar Foundation of 1978 20-87627Toyota-Fonden, Denmark KJ/BG-9449F
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIn 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

methodsAn electronic force-measuring device was mounted on the handle of the transvaginal probe, allowing for force measurement when conducting elastography. The study group concerned with normal cervical softening included 44 unselected pregnant women. Outcomes were CEI and CSI at different gestational ages. The study group for labor induction included 26 singleton term pregnant women admitted for labor induction. Outcome was defined as cervical dilatation time from 4 to 10 cm. Elastography measured the changes in mean gray value (intensity) during manual compressions. Region of interest was set within the anterior cervical lip.

resultsWe found that the mean of all variables regarding cervical softening decreased from early to late pregnancy: ie cervical length from 34 to 29 mm, CEI from 0.17 to 0.11 N, and CSI from 5.9 to 3.1 N mm. Moreover, the cervical dilatation time during labor induction was associated with CEI, although not statistically significantly (area under the ROC curve of 0.67), but not with the Bishop score, the cervical length, or the CSI.

conclusionsWe propose that quantitative elastography based on changes in the intensity of the B-mode ultrasound recording, in combination with a force-measuring device on the handle of the vaginal probe, deserves further investigation as an approach for evaluation of cervical biomechanical strength.

Indexed as

Ultrasonography, PrenatalAdolescentAdultCervix UteriElasticity Imaging TechniquesEquipment DesignFemaleGestational AgeHumansInfant, NewbornPredictive Value of TestsPregnancyPregnancy TrimestersPremature BirthYoung Adultcervical dilatation timecervical elastography indexcervical softeningcervical strength indexelastographyforce-measuring devicelabor inductionuterine cervix

Identifiers

PMID35049047
PMCPMC9564675
OpenAlexW4205743108

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.