US Medical Panel endorses new terminology for Early Pregnancy

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Posted on 12/23/2024 3:25:25 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege

For the first time, a multi-medical society panel has developed and endorsed a uniform lexicon for describing the observations seen on US during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The lexicon addresses terms frequently used in first trimester US reports, such as ‘ectopic pregnancy,’ ‘heartbeat,’ ‘living’ and ‘viable.'

The panel was convened by the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU). Other societies participating in the development of the lexicon included the Society of Abdominal Radiology, the American College of Radiology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the Society of Family Planning and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Under the leadership team of Dr. Rodgers, senior author Lori M. Strachowski, MD, and Mindy M. Horrow, MD, (SRU past president), the expert panel worked for a year and a half to reach a consensus on the uniform language. Panelists agreed unanimously or reached at least 80% agreement on preferred terms and synonyms, as well as terms to avoid, for the first-trimester ultrasound report.

Given that cardiac development is gradual and incomplete during the first trimester of pregnancy, the panel recommended the use of the term ‘cardiac activity’ instead of ‘heart motion’ or ‘heartbeat.’ The panel also recommended against terms, such as ‘live,’ ‘living’ and ‘viable,’ that could raise unrealistic expectations for patients facing a potential pregnancy loss or an ectopic pregnancy.

(Excerpt) Read more at rsna.org ...

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