BACKGROUND: The effect of examiner experience on the detection of ultrasound findings in ectopic pregnancy was assessed in a retrospective study. METHODS: Records and examinations of 267 consecutive patients with surgically proven ectopic pregnancy were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: (1) those who were examined by faculty during the day (182 examinations) and (2) those who were examined by resident physicians at night (85 examinations). RESULTS: A statistical difference was found in the incidence of adnexal mass, free fluid, sac within the mass, and corpus luteum cyst. CONCLUSION: Examiner experience has a strong effect on the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound examination. Adnexal abnormalities may be difficult to identify because of confusion with loops of bowel or other pelvic structures. Faculty follow-up and review are important in patient management.
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Wojak et al. (1995) studied this question.