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Abstract
Objective: To establish the main characteristics of the cervix in pregnant women with cervical insufficiency, by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Methods: A prospective observational case-control study was conducted among 59 pregnant women with cervical insufficiency and 10 normal pregnant women, between their 10th and 28th weeks. The parameters analyzed in the MRI examinations were: precise identification of the cervix; presence of hyposignal at the internal orifice of the cervix; loss of definition of the periendocervical stromal zone (PESZ); presence of hyposignal content inside the amniotic sac (sludge sign) and anatomical and functional biometry of the cervix.
Results: Peripheral hyposignal was found in 41 (85.4%) and loss of definition of the PESZ was observed in 36 pregnant women (73.5%) with cervical insufficiency. Sludge was observed in 46 pregnant women with cervical insufficiency, and this was seen on MRI in 27 cases (58.7%). The mean anatomical and functional lengths of the cervix on MRI in the pregnant women with cervical insufficiency were 3.5 ± 0.8 cm (0.8–4.9 cm) and 28.7 ± 6.3 mm (9–41 mm). None of the normal pregnant women presented hyposignal loss of the PESZ and the sludge sign.
Conclusion: MRI may be useful for evaluating the cervix and for early identification of signs of cervical insufficiency during pregnancy.
Declaration of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interests. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.