title: MR appearance of uterine dehiscence in the post-cesarean section patient.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  CT has been shown to be unreliable for detecting uterine dehiscence in the postoperative period after cesarean section (c-section). The purpose of this investigation is to describe the MR appearance of uterine dehiscence in this setting and identify features that distinguish complete from partial dehiscence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over an 82 month period, all charts and MR reports of patients that underwent MRI of the pelvis after c-section were reviewed for uterine dehiscence. Altogether, 55 patients were imaged. Positive cases for dehiscence were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists. Imaging criteria for complete dehiscence consisted of transmural disruption. Criteria for partial dehiscence consisted of disruption of the endometrial and/or serosal layer, without transmural extension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On MRI, five patients demonstrated abnormalities suggestive of incisional dehiscence. Based on these imaging criteria, two of these showed complete dehiscence that was proven at surgery and three showed findings of partial dehiscence. The optimal imaging plane was perpendicular to the incision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR features may be utilized to identify total uterine dehiscence and may be more effective than CT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maldjian
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milestone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015588:Observer Variation; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology*