Pelvis imaging Flashcards
Sonohysterography
Nabothian cyst
- Common finding in the uterus on pelvic ultrasound
- Discrete cystic structures that form when a cleft of columnar epithelium becomes covered with squamous cells and the columnar cells continue to secrete mucoid material. The cysts vary from microscopic to several centimeters in size
- Typically asymptomatic, can be ablated using electrosurgery if symptoms are present.
The rule of 1-2-3
- The 1-2-3 rule is a simple aide-mémoire describing the nomenclature of any small simple anechoic structure in the ovary on ultrasound:
- <1 cm = follicle.
- 1-2 cm = dominant follicle.
- >3 cm = cyst.
Imaging features of simple cysts
Hemorrhagic ovarian cysts
Complex ovarian cyst
What you call if it you are unsure if it is hemorrhagic on ultrasound
A follow-up examination in 6 weeks will allow for the patient to be at a different phase of the menstrual cycle
Rules of pelvis imaging
Endometrial stripe thickness in premenopausal women
- During menstruation: 2-4 mm
- Early proliferative phase (day 6-14): 5-7 mm
- Late proliferative / preovulatory phase: up to 11 mm
- Secretory phase: 7-16 mm
- Following dilatation and curettage or spontaneous abortion: <5 mm, if it is thicker consider retained products of conception
Endometrial stripe thickness in postmenopausal women
-
Vaginal bleeding (and not on tamoxifen):
- < 5 mm is resassuring against carcinoma
- > 5mm is ~7% risk of carcinoma
-
No history of vaginal bleeding:
- < 8-11 mm is resassuring against carcinoma
- > 11 mm is ~7% risk of carcinoma
-
On tamoxifen:
- < 5 mm is resassuring against carcinoma, though as many as 50% have thickness > 8 mm
What is more common: Left DVT, or right DVT?
Left DVT, due to May Thurner syndrome – compression by the iliac arteries
How to approach pelvic US in HCG+ patient
- See if there is an intrauterine pregnancy
- Examine for any extrauterine mass that is not an ovary – these are ectopic pregnancy until proven otherwise
- Examine the ovaries
If HCG is > 3000. . .
. . . you should see an intrauterine pregnancy
If you don’t, it’s either ectopic or miscarriage
Tubal ring of fire sign
“Ring of fire” flow seen in the adenxa on ultrasound
Highly suspicious for ectopic pregnancy