Re: Predictive value of cervical length in women with twin pregnancy presenting with threatened preterm labor. N. Melamed, L. Hiersch, R. Gabbay-Benziv, R. Bardin, I. Meizner, A. Wiznitzer and Y. Yogev. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2015; 46: 73-81.

This paper represents another important piece of the puzzle that is sonographic cervical length measurement for the prediction of preterm birth. Cervical length is now well established as a predictor of preterm birth in both twin and singleton populations in asymptomatic women, a fact that has grown in clinical relevance, with data suggesting that perhaps in both populations, but certainly in singletons, administration of progesterone may decrease the risk. However, the population of women presenting with contractions symptomatic of premature labor has, up until this paper, been largely left out of this predictive analysis, especially in twin pregnancies. This study presents a retrospective analysis of both twins and singleton patients in symptomatic premature labor, all of whom had sonographic measurement of cervical length performed at presentation. Although retrospective, the quality of the data has enabled these authors to demonstrate that the ultrasound measurement of cervical length may be used as an important negative predictor of preterm birth. This finding has clinical applicability