title: Racial differences in fibroid prevalence and ultrasound findings in asymptomatic young women (18-30 years old): a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  1) To determine the prevalence of fibroids in asymptomatic young black and white women (ages 18-30 y); 2) to determine other differences in uterine and adnexal anatomy; and 3) to obtain preliminary data for sample size calculations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred one nonparous black and white women, ages 18-30 years, with no known diagnosis of fibroids or clinically suggestive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A transvaginal ultrasound was performed in the follicular phase in all subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  1) Presence of fibroids; 2) endometrial thickness; 3) ovarian findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 101 participants (mean age 24.5 ± 3.5 y), 43% self-identified as black and 57% as white. The prevalence of ultrasound-diagnosed fibroids was 15% overall (26% in black women and 7% in white women). The mean fibroid size was 2.3 ± 2.1 cm. There was a significant difference in endometrial thickness between races, even after adjusting for contraception use and fibroid presence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Racial differences in fibroid prevalence exist even before women become symptomatic. Findings of thicker endometrium in black women could have clinical implications and warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. erica-marsh@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Erica E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: Geraldine E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Ekpo
authors.forename: Eden R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Cardozo
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brocks
authors.forename: Tanaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dune
authors.forename: Leeber S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000208:ethnology; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult