title: Ultrasonography of intrauterine devices.
abstract: The intrauterine device (IUD) is gaining popularity as a reversible form of contraception. Ultrasonography serves as first-line imaging for the evaluation of IUD position in patients with pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding, or absent retrieval strings. This review highlights the imaging of both properly positioned and malpositioned IUDs. The problems associated with malpositioned IUDs include expulsion, displacement, embedment, and perforation. Management considerations depend on the severity of the malposition and the presence or absence of symptoms. Three-dimensional ultrasonography has proven to be more sensitive in the evaluation of more subtle findings of malposition, particularly side-arm embedment. Familiarity with the ultrasonographic features of properly positioned and malpositioned IUDs is essential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kristina M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8344-1845
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nowitzki
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA ; Newton Wellesley Radiology Associates, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3116-3422
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hoimes
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Byron
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5642-7618
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Larry Z
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2995-111X
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Young H
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0206-5663
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Contraceptive devices, female; Intrauterine devices; Ultrasonography