title: A three-dimensional morphological reconstruction of uterine leiomyoma pseudocapsule vasculature by the Allen-Cahn mathematical model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To allow a morphological evaluation of pseudocapsule vasculature of uterine leiomyomas (ULs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Preliminary prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten women with symptomatic myomas warranting laparotomic hysterectomies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pseudocapsules of ULs were isolated from the surrounding myometrium, for a digital reconstruction of pseudocapsule vessels and analysis by three-dimensional structure applying the Allen-Cahn mathematical model. The images were converted in a matrix and an appropriate created software elaborated the images. The "nonlocal" Allen-Cahn mathematical model was applied to reduce the image noise and to regulate vessel outlines obtaining a "clean" image.
  
  
  METHODS
  The geometrical characteristics and morphology of vessel pseudocapsule network of ULs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The disarray in vascular architecture was evident from the absence of vessel parallelism and variable intervascular distances. An abnormal vascular branching of pseudocapsule was indicated by the different density of vessels per space and some vascular walls without interruption indicated vessel tortuosity. There were vascular spaces, which did not communicate with other vessels ("cul-de-sac" vessels).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pseudocapsule vasculature showed increase of tortuosity, disarray, abnormal branching and the presence of "cul-de-sac" vessels. Three-dimensional reconstruction of leiomyoma pseudocapsule vasculature network, despite the benign nature of ULs, showed geometrical characteristics of malignant neoplasm vessels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santa Maria Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malvasi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.forename: Siavash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Agnese
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rotoni
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dell'Edera
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tsin
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavallotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009214:Myoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery