ASSESSING THE DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF COMBINED VAGINAL AND ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR CESAREAN SCAR PREGNANCY IN FEMALE ATHLETES

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of combined vaginal and abdominal ultrasonography in diagnosing scar pregnancy, a condition arising from previous cesarean sections, with implications for postpartum athletes' health and return to sports. Method: We retrospectively analyzed 80 post-cesarean section patients diagnosed with scar pregnancy at our hospital from February 2018 to February 2023. Participants were categorized into two types: 37 with cystic pregnancies and 43 with mixed mass pregnancies. Diagnostic effectiveness was compared across different ultrasound modalities. Result: In the combined screening group, the diagnostic accuracy for cystic pregnancies was 91.89%, significantly higher than the 67.57% accuracy observed with abdominal ultrasound alone. Similarly, for mixed mass pregnancies, the combined method achieved a diagnostic coincidence rate of 95.35%, compared to 72.09% with abdominal ultrasound alone. Conclusion: The combined use of vaginal and abdominal ultrasonography significantly improves the diagnostic accuracy of scar pregnancies in post-cesarean section patients. This method is particularly critical for postpartum athletes, whose timely and accurate diagnosis can significantly impact their health management and decisions regarding the timing and nature of their return to athletic activities. The results support the broader adoption of combined ultrasonography in clinical settings, especially for populations with specific physical activity considerations.