Three-dimensional ultrasound as a predictor of pregnancy in patients undergoing ART

Abstract

Different ultrasound parameters have been used to assess endometrial receptivity during ART treatment, including endometrial thickness, endometrial pattern, endometrial volume, Doppler of uterine arteries and endometrial blood flow. However, conflicting results have been reported with regard to their role in the prediction of pregnancy in ART treatment. The 3D ultrasound with power Doppler provides a unique tool with which to examine the blood supply of the whole endometrium and subendometrial region. Volume assessment can also be precisely performed by 3D ultrasound. Based on a med-line research and on our experience, the clinical use of 3D ultrasound is discussed in this review article.

Keywords: 3D; ART; IVF; power Doppler; ultrasound.

Figure 1

3D-volume calculation in a VOCAL program. Note the 2D contours of the endometrium have to be defined in different planes

Figure 2

Differences of estimated volumes and real volumes (vertical axis) are plotted against the real volumes (horizontal axis). For a better view, the single points of each method (2D, 3D, first, second measurement) were connected by lines

Figure 3

Vascularisation index (VI), flow index (FI) and the vascularisation flow index (VFI) assessed both vascularisation and perfusion

Figure 4

a) Vascularisation of ovarian cyst with low gain. b) Vascularisation of the same ovarian cyst with high gain. Note high grade artifacts