title: [Correlation between sonographic findings and level of knowledge/self-report of symptoms in women with uterine leiomyomata].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Is there any correlation between the pre-therapeutic level of knowledge concerning the number/size of leiomyomata or self-reported symptoms and confirmation by sonography? How does the assumption of the number/size of leiomyomata influence the self-perception of symptoms?
  
  
  METHODS
  In an anonymous questionnaire 498 patients were asked about the number, size and symptoms induced by leiomyomata using a visual chart from 0 - 10. The data were correlated with findings from transvaginal and abdominal ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The self-reported number of leiomyomata corresponded with the sonographic findings in 80 % of patients with 1 leiomyoma and in 54 % of patients with 2 or 3 leiomyomata, while the self-reported size only corresponded with the sonographic findings in 20 % to 70 % of patients. There was no correlation between the number of leiomymata confirmed by sonography and self-reported symptoms. There are significant correlations between the sonography-defined size and self-reported level of dysmenorrhea (p = 0.003) and self-reported pressure in the abdomen (p = 0.02), as well as submucosal leiomyomata and hypermenorrhea (p = 0.01). Patients who assumed multiple or large leiomyomata ≥ 10 cm reported strong pressure on the bladder or pressure in the abdomen significantly more frequently than patients who assumed 1 leiomyoma (p = 0.03) or a leiomyoma less than 10 cm (p = 0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a discrepancy between the relatively good knowledge about the number of leiomyomata and the lack of knowledge about their size. Subjective incorrect presumptions concerning the number or size of leiomymata can result in different disorders. Therefore, they should not be the exclusive indication for further operative interventions.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gynäkologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. jens.stupin@charite.de
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Stupin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rothmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kentenich
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Utz-Billing
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: David
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology