Gestational sac
Updates to Article Attributes
The gestational sac (GS) is the first sign of early pregnancy on ultrasound and can be seen with endovaginal ultrasound at approximately 3-5 weeks gestation when its mean sac diameter (MSD) measures approximately 2-3 mm in diameter.
Some suggest that if the beta-hCG level is >1800 mIU/ml (second international standard) a transabdominal ultrasound should be able to identify an intrauterine gestational sac, however, this value is debatable, and beta-hCG levels >2000 (or even >3000) without a visualized intrauterine gestational sac does not rule out intrauterine pregnancy 4. Treatment should not be initiated on a hemodynamically stable woman on the basis of a single beta-hCG level 5.
A true gestational sac be distinguished from a pseudogestational sac by noting:
- its normal eccentric location: it is embedded in endometrium, rather than centrally within the uterine cavity
- presence of a yolk sac: seen at approximately 5.5 weeks
- presence of the double decidual sign (most helpful at 4-6.5 weeks)
However, caution should be exercised with a diagnosis of a pseudogestational sac. In a woman with a postivepositive beta-hCG, any intrauterine sac-like fluid collection seen on ultrasound is highly likely to be a gestational sac 3.
A normal gestational sac grows by 1 mm per day.
See also
-<p>The<strong> gestational sac (GS)</strong> is the first sign of <a href="/articles/early-pregnancy">early pregnancy</a> on ultrasound and can be seen with endovaginal ultrasound at approximately 3-5 weeks gestation when its <a href="/articles/mean-sac-diameter">mean sac diameter (MSD</a>) measures approximately 2-3 mm in diameter.</p><p>Some suggest that if the <a title="Beta-hCG levels" href="/articles/beta-hcg-levels">beta-hCG level</a> is >1800 mIU/ml (second international standard) a transabdominal ultrasound should be able to identify an intrauterine gestational sac, however, this value is debatable, and beta-hCG levels >2000 (or even >3000) without a visualized intrauterine gestational sac does not rule out intrauterine pregnancy <sup>4</sup>. Treatment should not be initiated on a hemodynamically stable woman on the basis of a single beta-hCG level <sup>5</sup>.</p><p>A true gestational sac be distinguished from a <a href="/articles/pseudogestational-sac-1">pseudogestational sac</a> by noting :</p><ul>- +<p>The<strong> gestational sac (GS)</strong> is the first sign of <a href="/articles/early-pregnancy">early pregnancy</a> on ultrasound and can be seen with endovaginal ultrasound at approximately 3-5 weeks gestation when its <a href="/articles/mean-sac-diameter">mean sac diameter (MSD</a>) measures approximately 2-3 mm in diameter.</p><p>Some suggest that if the <a href="/articles/beta-hcg-levels">beta-hCG level</a> is >1800 mIU/ml (second international standard) a transabdominal ultrasound should be able to identify an intrauterine gestational sac, however, this value is debatable, and beta-hCG levels >2000 (or even >3000) without a visualized intrauterine gestational sac does not rule out intrauterine pregnancy <sup>4</sup>. Treatment should not be initiated on a hemodynamically stable woman on the basis of a single beta-hCG level <sup>5</sup>.</p><p>A true gestational sac be distinguished from a <a href="/articles/pseudogestational-sac-1">pseudogestational sac</a> by noting:</p><ul>
-</ul><p>However, caution should be exercised with a diagnosis of a pseudogestational sac. In a woman with a postive beta-hCG, any intrauterine sac-like fluid collection seen on ultrasound is highly likely to be a gestational sac <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>A normal gestational sac grows by <strong>1 </strong>mm per day.</p><h4>See also</h4><ul>- +</ul><p>However, caution should be exercised with a diagnosis of a <a title="Pseudogestational sac" href="/articles/pseudogestational-sac-1">pseudogestational sac</a>. In a woman with a positive beta-hCG, any intrauterine sac-like fluid collection seen on ultrasound is highly likely to be a gestational sac <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>A normal gestational sac grows by <strong>1 </strong>mm per day.</p><h4>See also</h4><ul>