Abstract
Author(s): KRZYSZTOF PREIS, MAÅGORZATA ÅWIÄTKOWSKA-FREUND
Uterine cervix in obstetrics is a subject of vaginal examination and ultrasound measurements.These methods are used to assess the risk of preterm delivery and to choose the method oflabor induction.There was no objective method of evaluation of the uterine cervix consistency unless ultra-sound elastography was introduced. It compares stiffness of tissues presented on the image.Changes in the density of the cervical parts (cervical canal and orifices) presented by elasto-grams seem to predict labor better than Bishop Score and ultrasound measurements.Elastography is a method based on observation that different tissue stiffness causes differentreaction to the applied pressure. Its first application was the tumors evaluation – to differen-tiate hard tumors from surrounding soft tissue, like breast and thyroid gland tumors. It wasproved, that uterine cervix changes happening before delivery is begun, could be presentedby elastography as well.Authors present review of actual opinions on elastography use in obstetrical examination.