The role of cervical length measurement at 11-14 weeks for the prediction of preterm delivery

Methods. aEuro integral This was a prospective study of a low-risk population of 1113 women, who underwent CL measurement at 11--14 weeks. Mean CL was calculated for deliveries at > 37, < 37 and < 34 weeks. Cut-off limits of 27 mm and 30 mm were used to examine the predictive value of CL. Results. aEuro integral Mean +/-+/- SD CL for the entire study population was 40.6 +/-+/- 5.5 mm. CL was analyzed for term and PTD (< 37 weeks) and further analyzed for deliveries at 34--37 and < 34 weeks. Mean CL was 38.9 +/-+/- 5.5 mm for PTD and 40.8 +/-+/- 5.5 mm for deliveries > 37 weeks (p == 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed small predictive value of CL for PTD < 37 weeks (sensitivity == 63.3%% and specificity == 51.1%%, area under the curve (AUC) == 0.60, 95%% CI: 0.54--0.66) (p == 0.001) and did not show any predictive value for PTD < 35 weeks (AUC == 0.55, 95%% CI: 0.43--0.67, p == 0.355) or PTD < 32 weeks (AUC == 0.51, 95%% CI: 0.30--0.74, p == 0.851). Conclusion. aEuro integral CL at 11--14 weeks does not appear to be predictive of PTD. Statistical analysis of CL did not show any predictive value for PTD < 35 weeks, or < 32 weeks and although it showed a predictive value for PTD at < 37 weeks, the sensitivity was very low.