These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: A sensitive qualitative pregnancy test (ICON) and ultrasound in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.
    Author: Weerasinghe DS, Strand L, Cooke R, Flower J, Hutton JD.
    Journal: N Z Med J; 1989 Oct 25; 102(878):549-51. PubMed ID: 2530479.
    Abstract:
    Three hundred and twenty-four patients presenting to Wellington Women's Hospital with symptoms suspicious of an ectopic pregnancy were first studied by testing serum for HCG using a new simple and sensitive (25 mIU/mL) ICON pregnancy test. One hundred and thirty ICON tests were positive. Subsequent management: (a) Immediate laparoscopy noted 3 intrauterine and 15 ectopic pregnancies. (b) Twenty-five patients discharged on revised clinical grounds without pregnancies. (c) An immediate ultrasound examination of 87 women showed 58 intrauterine pregnancies (including 1 misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy) and 29 ectopic pregnancies which were later confirmed at laparoscopy. One hundred and ninety-four ICON tests were negative including two false negative results in patients with ectopic pregnancies. To avoid both unnecessary laparoscopy or the discharge of patients with a possible ectopic pregnancy, patients with symptoms and signs suspicious of an ectopic pregnancy and who present to hospital should have a rapid sensitive HCG assay. Then, if the test is positive (sensitivity 96%), an ultrasound examination can assist in determining the likely site of the pregnancy.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]