title: Laparoscopy-assisted intrapelvic sonography with a high-frequency, real-time miniature transducer for assessment of the Fallopian tube: a preliminary report.
abstract: Our purpose was to visualize normal and abnormal Fallopian tubes using laparoscopy-assisted intrapelvic sonography with a specially developed 20 MHz flexible catheter-based high-resolution, real-time miniature (2.4 mm outer diameter) ultrasound transducer in infertile women. A total of 21 women (20 infertile, one with unilateral hydrosalpinx, and one tubal pregnancy) were studied with pelvic saline effusion under laparoscopy. Fimbriae were clearly depicted with a cockscomb-like form in 95% of patients. All ampullae were visualized, and mucosal layers were clearly distinguished from muscle layers in 70% of patients. Scanty intratubal effusion was noted in 50% of patients, and tubal spastic findings were found in 10% of patients. In all, 60% of isthmuses were detected, and mucosal layers were distinguished from muscle layers in 30%. In the subject with hydrosalpinx, the tubal wall was thinner, and it was not possible to distinguish between muscle and mucosal layers. In the subject with a tubal pregnancy, the amniotic membrane and decidua were depicted more clearly than by transvaginal sonography. In conclusion, laparoscopy-assisted intrapelvic sonography with a high-frequency, real-time miniature transducer may be useful in the assessment of tubal texture and function in tubal disorders, possibly in infertility practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tango Central Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Senoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yamashiro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hata
mesh_terms: D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008904:Miniaturization; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography