Diagnosis of extrauterine pregnancy with transvaginal ultrasound.

We reviewed all cases of suspected ectopic pregnancy (EP) that had transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) prior to surgery from 1987 to 1989. Of 265 patients who had culdocentesis and laparoscopy for suspected EP, 206 had EP. IN 28 of the 59 cases that proved negative at laparoscopy, EP was suspected at TVU. An ectopic embryo was seen at TVU in 28 cases where laparoscopy confirmed the TVU diagnosis. In 163 cases where EP was considered probable at TVU this was confirmed at laparoscopy. 15 cases of EP were overlooked at TVU.