Three-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (3D-HyCoSy) as an outpatient procedure to assess infertile women: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the use of three-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (3D-HyCoSy) as a routine outpatient procedure for evaluating infertile women.

METHODS

In 25 unselected infertile patients, tubal patency and uterine cavity were investigated by 3D-HyCoSy with saline as a contrast medium. The efficacy of the procedure was evaluated with X-ray hysterosalpingography (XHSG) as reference.

RESULTS

The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of predicting tubal patency by 3D-HyCoSy were 100, 33.3, 84.4, and 100%, respectively. The full contour of the uterine cavity was depicted in 96% of cases by 3D-HyCoSy and 64% by XHSG (P < 0.005). The uterine cavity area measured on 3D-HyCoSy correlated well with the volume of contrast medium required on XHSG (r2 = 0.8166).

CONCLUSIONS

3D-HyCoSy provided advantages of better assessment of uterine cavity over XHSG. Compared with conventional XHSG, the efficacy of 3D-HyCoSy to assess tubal patency was acceptable. In addition, the procedure of 3D-HyCoSy appears to be better tolerated, requiring no sedation or anesthesia and a reduced examination time. Thus, 3D-HyCoSy with saline as a contrast medium is feasible and could comprise a routine outpatient procedure in the initial evaluation of infertile women.