ULTRASOUND SIGNS OF ADENOMYOSIS

PICTORIAL ESSAY

Abstract

Adenomyosis is defined as the presence of ectopic endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium. It is a disease of the inner myometrium and results from infiltration of the basal endometrium into the underlying myometrium. Transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are the main imaging modalities for the diagnosis of this disease. The asymmetry of the thickness of the uterine walls, intramyometrial cysts, hyperechogenic intramyometrial islands, myometrium with a shading fan shape, signs of interruption of the junctional zone are the most frequent ultrasound findings to establish the presence of adenomyosis. Adenomyosis can appear as a diffuse or focal form. In this article, ultrasound findings of adenomyosis were illustrated in order to disseminate the importance of these signs for the diagnosis of this disease.