Ultrasonographic quantification of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle using computer-assisted analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Sonographic gray-scale histogram is used to assess the endometrial changes in the different phases of the menstrual cycle. The objective was to examine the usefulness of a gray-scale histogram and computer-assisted image analysis software in assessing normal physiologic states of the endometrium with sonography.


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients, who visited the Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital and matched the eligibility criteria, were categorized into one of three groups: (1) menstrual phase; (2) follicular phase; and (3) luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Ultrasonography of the uterus was performed on each patient and the endometrium was analyzed with ImageJ image analysis software.


RESULTS
A statistically significant difference in signal intensity scores of the gray-level histogram, represented as m(j), was found among the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonographic images analyzed by using computer-assisted image analysis software and gray-level histogram are proven to be useful in assessing the physiological state of the endometrium.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Szu-Yuan
SY
Chou
Chih-Yen
CY
Chen
Hung-Wen
HW
Su
Ming-I
MI
Hsu
So-Rong
SR
Liang
Chun-Sen
CS
Hsu
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000502:physiology; D012042:Registries; D012984:Software; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult