Gestational sac

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 the mean sac diameter (MSD) would approximately measure 2-3 mm in diameter.

A true gestational sac can 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 the double decidual sign (most helpful at 4.0-6.5 weeks)
• presence of a yolk sac: seen at approximately 5.5 weeks (unequivocal evidence of a gestational sac)

However, caution should be exercised with a diagnosis of a pseudogestational sac. 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 ³.

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 an intrauterine pregnancy ⁴. Treatment for a suspected failed pregnancy should not be initiated on a hemodynamically stable woman on the basis of a single beta-hCG level ⁵.

If one cannot identify a yolk sac at a mean gestational sac diameter of 16-24 mm, this is suspicious for, though not diagnostic of a failed early pregnancy.

See also

• empty gestational sac
• eccentric gestational sac
• small gestational sac