Elastosonography: a possible new tool for diagnosis of adenomyosis?
OBJECTIVE
Adenomyosis is a disorder defined by the presence of ectopic endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) is currently the first-line examination for this condition and the aim of this paper is to relate a pilot experience that was conducted using TVU to evaluate adenomyosis and which started from the assumption that tissues with anatomopathological differences show different elasticity values.


METHODS
Using standard B-mode analysis and elastosonography, we evaluated 30 consecutive women with suspected uterine adenomyosis. In 15 cases the diagnosis was confirmed by histology.


RESULTS
The adenomyotic area presented more softness (red and green) compared with the surrounding uterine tissue (blue); the borders of the adenomyotic area corresponded to the borders of the green area.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results suggest that elastosonography could be considered a useful tool in the diagnosis of adenomyosis because it is non-invasive, easy to understand, easy to perform, and has a short learning curve towards becoming skilled at the procedure.
GINTEAM Unit of Minimally Invasive Gynaecology, Corso Marconi 35, 10125 Turin, Italy.
Marco
M
Tessarolo
Luca
L
Bonino
Marco
M
Camanni
Francesco
F
Deltetto
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
Fertil Steril. 2001 Sep;76(3):588-94
11532486
Ultrasound Q. 2005 Sep;21(3):167-70
16096612
Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 1989 Mar;16(1):221-35
2664619
Radiology. 2000 Jun;215(3):783-90
10831700
J Ultrasound Med. 2007 Jul;26(7):899-908
17592053
Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2009 Jun;39(6):394-8
19359330
Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2006 Aug;20(4):583-602
16564228
Radiology. 1995 Dec;197(3):609-14
7480727
J Radiol. 2008 Jan;89(1 Pt 1):35-9
18288024
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Sep;30(3):341-5
17659649
JBR-BTR. 2008 Sep-Oct;91(5):187-94
19051937
Obstet Gynecol. 1995 Sep;86(3):461-5
7651662
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Oct;34(4):486-8
19790094
Radiol Med. 2005 Jul-Aug;110(1-2):69-76
16163141
Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1995 Jun;102(6):471-4
7632639
Acad Radiol. 2007 Feb;14(2):193-200
17236992
Ultraschall Med. 2009 Apr;30(2):175-9
18496776
Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2009 Oct;53(5):455-64
19910898
Fertil Steril. 1992 Jul;58(1):94-7
1624029
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Jul;201(1):107.e1-6
19398089
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Apr;198(4):373.e1-7
18177833
Radiology. 1994 Mar;190(3):803-6
8115630
J Clin Ultrasound. 1998 Jan;26(1):21-5
9475204
Gynecol Obstet Invest. 1996;42(1):39-41
8840177
Breast J. 2009 Sep-Oct;15(5):564-6
19671106