title: MRI evaluation of the uterine structure after myomectomy.
abstract: Myomectomy is a good indication for women with uterine leiomyoma who desire to preserve their child-bearing potential. However, there are still no reports about how long it takes the uterus to reach a stable state after myomectomy. We evaluated the changes in uterine structure during the recovery process after myomectomy by MR images. MR images were used to analyze the time-dependent changes in the length of the uterine cavity, the volume of the uterus, recovery of the junctional zone, prevalence of modification of the endometrium, and uterine structure in the region of the enucleated myoma. The cavity length and the volume of the uterus, and the myometrium were stabilized at six weeks after the myomectomy. With regard to the endometrium, 12 weeks were required for it to achieve a stable state after myomectomy. However, even at 12 weeks postoperatively, 14.2% of the cases showed an unusual view near the uterine incision on MR images. We concluded that the recovery process is complete at 12 weeks after the operation if there are no clear findings of hematoma or edema formation in the myometrium on MR images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Imaoka
authors.forename: Kazuro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimura
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery