title: 3D ultrasound assessment of endometrial junctional zone anatomy as a predictor of the outcome of ICSI cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relation between junctional zone thickness (JZ) and success of implantation in IVF/ICSI cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study included 100 infertility patients undergoing ICSI. The long protocol was used in all patients. JZ was measured using 3D ultrasound, in the coronal section, at three places, on two occasions. First measurement was done before HMG was started (i.e. when down regulation was achieved). Second measurement was done on the day of ovum pick up (OPU). Follow up after treatment was done to determine the rate of implantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a highly significant difference between pregnant and non pregnant treated women regarding the measurement of JZ at the day of OPU at all sites named fundal (0.27±0.1 vs. 0.38±0.14), anterior (0.28±0.07 vs. 0.36±0.09), posterior (0.32±0.1 vs. 0.37±0.09) and average (0.29±0.08 vs. 0.37±0.09) respectively. The cut off value, sensitivity and specificity of measurement of JZ at fundus were (≤0.31,90% and 66.7%), at anterior wall were (≤0.35,90% and 60%), at posterior wall (≤0.25, 50% and 93.3%) and average were (≤0.32,70% and 70%) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The thinner the junctional zone at day of OPU, the higher the implantation rate and the difference between JZ measured at the day of down regulation and the day of OPU is a predictor of the outcome of ICSI cycles.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kasr AlAiny hospital, Cairo University, Egypt. Electronic address: prof.ahmedmaged@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Maged
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kasr AlAiny hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdel-Maguid
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ramzy
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kasr AlAiny hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mona Aboul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ghar
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kasr AlAiny hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hossam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El Shenoufy
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kasr AlAiny hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sherine H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Gad Allah
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kasr AlAiny hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amr H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wahba
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kasr AlAiny hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: AbdAllah Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: ElKateb
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kasr AlAiny hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Noha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hwedi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 3D ultrasound; ICSI; Junctional zone; Uterus