Impact of imaging methods in adenomyosis

Abstract

The adenomyosis it is a condition characterized by benign gynecological finding of endometrial glands and stroma in the privacy of the myometrium, associated or not with myometrial hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Currently, it is of fundamental importance for early diagnosis of adenomyosis due to its increasing association with infertility women in the fertile age. The incidence of adenomyosis showed that 10-20% of women in the general population and up to 60% of women over 40 years might develop this condition. A transvaginal ultrasound is the first choice as a method of imaging for investigation of pelvic pain or menstrual changes. The use of ultrasonography (USG) transvaginal is effective in the diagnosis of adenomyosis because the image resolution obtained in devices go along today. There is a need considerable training and ability of the examiner in view this method is operatordependent. It is noteworthy that the presence of other abnormalities such as fibroids and endometriosis can complicate the findings and to confuse the diagnosis, so it is important to the aid of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The only definitive diagnosis is confirmed by histopathology of the myometrium. This article aims to reveal the latest evidence on the accuracy of the diagnosis of adenomyosis by the methods of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.