Uterine contractions evaluated on cine MR imaging in patients with uterine leiomyomas

Nishino, Mizuki; Togashi, Kaori; Nakai, Asako; Hayakawa, Katsumi; Kanao, Shotarou; Iwasaku, Kazuhiro; Fujii, Shingo

doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2004.01.009

« Previous Next »European Journal of Radiology
Volume 53, Issue 1 , Pages 142-146, January 2005

Uterine contractions evaluated on cine MR imaging in patients with uterine leiomyomas☆

Mizuki Nishino
- Department of Radiology, Kyoto City Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +81-75-751-311-5311; fax: +81-727-61-3543.
Kaori Togashi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Asako Nakai
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Katsumi Hayakawa
- Department of Radiology, Kyoto City Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
Shotarou Kanao
- Department of Radiology, Kyoto City Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
Kazuhiro Iwasaku
- Department of Obstetrics and Genecology, Kyoto City Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
Shingo Fujii
- Department of Obstetrics and Genecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Received 27 November 2003; received in revised form 9 January 2004; accepted 13 January 2004.

Abstract

Purpose: Submucosal leiomyoma is one of the most recognized causes of infertility and habitual abortion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate uterine peristalsis, a cycle-related inherent contractility of uterus probably responsible for sperm transport and conservation of pregnancy, in patients with uterine leiomyomas using cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Materials and methods: Study population consisted of 26 female patients (age range: 19–51 years, mean: 41 years), in which 16 patients had submucosal leiomyomas and 10 patients had intramural or subserosal leiomyomas. We prospectively performed MR imaging of the midsagittal plane of uterus using 1.5T magnet (Symphony, Siemens Medical Systems) with a body array coil, and obtained 60 half-Fourier acquisition single shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) images (Echo time=80ms, FOV=300mm, slice thickness 5mm, matrix 256×256) within 2min, and displayed them on cine mode at 12× faster than real speed. Evaluated were peristaltic movements at the endometral–myometrial junction and focal myometrial movements, adjacent to leiomyomas, regarding presence, direction, frequency, and conduction. Results: The peristaltic movements were identified in 12/16 patients with submucosal lesions and 10/10 with other leiomyomas. The frequency and direction were cycle-related. Loss of peristalsis was noted adjacent to submucosal myomas in 4/12 patients, but was not in others. Focal myometrial movements were noted in 9/16 patients with submucosal myomas, but not in others. Conclusions: Uterine peristaltic movements were partly interrupted by submucosal leiomoymas, but not by myometrial or subserosal leiomyomas. Loss of peristalsis and focal myometrial movements was noted only adjacent to submucosal leiomyomas. These findings are considered to represent dysfunctional contractility, and may be related with pregnancy loss.