Evaluation of retained products of conception using pulsed continuous arterial spin-labeling MRI: clinical feasibility and initial results

Acute pelvic pain: A pictorial review with magnetic resonance imaging

Acute uterine emergencies constitute both obstetric and gynecologic conditions. The superior image resolution, superior soft-tissue characterization, and lack of ionizing radiation make magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preferable over ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) in investigating uterine emergencies. Although USG is the first-line imaging modality and is easily accessible, it has limitations. USG is an operator dependent and limited by patient factors such as obesity and muscle atrophy. CT is limited by its risk of teratogenicity in pregnant females, poor tissue differentiation, and radiation effect. The non-specific findings on CT may lead to misinterpretation of the pathology. MRI overcomes all these limitations and is emerging as the most crucial imaging modality in the emergency room (ER). The evolving 3D MR sequences further reduce the acquisition times, expanding its ER role. Although MRI is not the first-line imaging modality, it is a problem-solving tool when the ultrasound and CT are inconclusive. This pictorial review discusses the various MRI techniques used in uterine imaging and the appearances of distinct etiologies of uterine emergencies across different MRI sequences.

Arterial spin labeling assessment of myometrial perfusion changes in patients with uterine fibroid and its impact on fertility

Background

Fibroids are the most common uterine tumor in the reproductive age group. These tumors although benign, their relation to infertility is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to assess the fibroid impact on fertility using arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique.

Results

This prospective study included 40 cases (30 female patients having uterine fibroid and 10 age- and sex-matched control cases). The 30 patients were divided according to their fertility into 2 subgroups: fertile (n = 15) and infertile (n = 15). All cases underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination with ASL technique. The perfusion values were measured in the uterine walls, fibroids, and in the gluteus maximus muscle as control. ASL demonstrated non-significant difference in the perfusion between anterior and posterior uterine walls in the control cases and revealed significant difference in the perfusion between fibroid positive and fibroid negative uterine walls in patients with uterine fibroid (p value < 0.04). Perfusion values of the fertile and infertile subgroups showed no statistically significant difference.

Conclusion

Arterial spin labeling is an evolving technique that can be used to evaluate the myometrial perfusion changes in patients with uterine fibroid without using contrast media. Uterine fibroids were associated with decreased perfusion but with no statistically significant impact on fertility.