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Case Reports
. 2017 Sep 3;9(9):e1649.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.1649.

Cervical Funneling: Potential Pitfall of Point-of-Care Pelvic Ultrasound

Lori A Stolz  1 , Richard Amini  2 , Elaine H Situ-LaCasse  2 , Faryal Shareef  3 , Heather A Reed  4 , Srikar Adhikari  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cervical Funneling: Potential Pitfall of Point-of-Care Pelvic Ultrasound

Lori A Stolz et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Though point-of-care ultrasound applications continue to expand, there are findings that are not within the scope of emergency ultrasound. It is important for emergency physicians to be aware of incidental findings that can be identified on comprehensive ultrasounds performed by other imaging departments in order to fully understand the limitations of bedside ultrasound. In this case, a gravid patient presented to the emergency department with pelvic cramping and vaginal bleeding. Point-of-care transabdominal pelvic ultrasound examination was performed and demonstrated cervical funneling. In the appropriate patient, cervical insufficiency due to cervical funneling may be an indication for cerclage in a pregnant patient.

Keywords: bedside ultrasound; cervical funneling; cervical length; point of care ultrasound; pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Sagittal imaging of a gravid uterus.
Point of care sonographic image of uterus with cervical funneling (white arrow).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Cervical progression in pregnancy.
Progressive stages of cervical dilatation: T-shape (a), Y-shape (b), V-shape (c), U-shape (d).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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