title: Imaging techniques for evaluation of uterine myomas.
abstract: Due to their high prevalence and related morbidity, uterine myomas constitute a group of gynecological pathologies largely studied in all clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects. They have been widely evaluated with a large series of imaging techniques. In fact, ultrasound (also saline infusion sonohysterography) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are considered the optimal methods to assess uterine fibroids in terms of number, volume, echostructure, location, relation with endometrial cavity and uterine layers, vascularization, and differential diagnosis with other benign (adenomyosis) and malignant myometrial pathologies. Nevertheless, further studies are required to fill some gaps such as the absence of a common and sharable sonographic terminology and methodology to scan the myometrium, as well as imaging parameters for differentiation of typical myomas from smooth tumors of unknown malignant potential (STUMP) and leiomyosarcomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonia Carla
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: alessia.dilegge@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Legge
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Bolzano Central Hospital, Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
mesh_terms: D062788:Adenomyosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; ultrasound; uterine myomas