Perigestational Hemorrhage





KEY FACTS


Terminology




  • •

    Perigestational hemorrhage (PGH): Hematoma in subchorionic space adjacent to gestational sac (GS)


  • •

    Subchorionic hematoma is synonymous with PGH



Imaging




  • •

    Hematoma appearance depends on age of blood



    • ○

      Acute hematoma is echogenic


    • ○

      Subacute hematoma is complex, more hypoechoic


    • ○

      Old hematoma approaches sonolucent



  • •

    PGH has no blood flow on color Doppler


  • •

    Estimate PGH size compared with GS size (subjectively)



    • ○

      ≤ 10% vs. 11-25% vs. 26-50% vs. > 50%


    • ○

      Other measurement criteria shown to be less accurate (including amount of detachment of early placenta)




Top Differential Diagnoses




  • •

    Early twin gestation (PGH mimics 2nd sac)


  • •

    Chorioamniotic separation in late 1st trimester



Clinical Issues




  • •

    Large PGH associated with ↑ risk for pregnancy loss



    • ○

      PGH > 50% of GS (with living embryo) = 23% loss rate


    • ○

      PGH ≤ 10% of GS (with living embryo) = 6% loss rate


    • ○

      Loss rates higher if no living embryo at time of diagnosis



  • •

    Early PGH associated with ↑ risk of pregnancy loss



    • ○

      20% loss rate if ≤ 7 weeks vs. 4% if > 8 weeks



  • •

    PGH is common (symptomatic or asymptomatic)



    • ○

      2% of all 1st-trimester patients have PGH


    • ○

      20% of patients with vaginal bleeding have PGH



  • •

    Guarded prognosis if embryonic bradycardia


  • •

    Guarded prognosis if cervix distended with blood



Scanning Tips




  • •

    Take large field of view or cine sweeps to show PGH size compared to GS size


  • •

    Zoom into GS to look for yolk sac, embryo (transvaginal scan often necessary)


  • •

    Document embryo heart rate with M-mode in every case







Typical appearance of small perigestational hemorrhage (PGH) next to an early gestational sac (GS) is shown. The internal echogenicity in the subchorionic hematoma can mimic a yolk sac from a dichorionic twin. Sometimes follow-up is necessary to differentiate between the 2 diagnoses.





Nov 10, 2024 | Posted by in ULTRASONOGRAPHY | Comments Off on Perigestational Hemorrhage

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