摘要：Obj.ctive: To compare digital.and ul.rasonographic cervical.examination for the prediction of preterm del.very in patients hospital.zed for preterm l.bor. Study design: Fiftynine patients were incl.ded. The Bishop score was eval.ated upon admission, weeks gestational.age. Ul.rasonographic measurement of cervical.l.ngth was done within 24 h after entry. Del.very before 37 weeks gestational.age was the primary endpoint. Attending obstetricians were bl.nded to the resul.s of echography. Resul.s: Preterm del.very rate was 39%(23/59). The risk of preterm del.very was significantl. increased when the Bishop score was greater than or equal.to 6 (OR=4.45 [1.41-14.01]) or when ul.rasonographic cervical.l.ngth was l.ss than or equal.to 27 mm (OR=4.04 [1.32-12.3]), but digital.examination was the onl. independent risk factor in mul.ivariate anal.sis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive val.e for digital.examination and ul.rasonography were respectivel. 74, 61, 55 and 79%, 70, 64, 55 and 77%. Combination of digital.examination and ul.rasonography did not yiel. better resul.s. Concl.sion: In our series, prediction of preterm del.very was not improved by ul.rasonography compared to digital.examination. The size of the cervical.shift observed in most patients hospital.zed for preterm l.bor may render ul.rasonography l.ss rel.vant in identifying patients anticipated to del.ver prematurel..