Risk of Dissemination of Malignant Cells into the Peritoneal Cavity during Sonohysterography and Attendant Risk ofWorsening Prognosis:

Color Doppler sonohysterography of endometrial polyps and submucosal fibroids

OBJECTIVE

To describe the typical sonographic findings and clinical applications of color Doppler sono-hysterography and to correlate the vascularity of lesions seen on color Doppler sonohysterography to microvessel density and the presence of vessels greater than 0.5 mm.

METHODS

Color Doppler sonohysterography was performed on 25 women with abnormal uterine bleeding. The vascularity (number of vessels > 0.5 mm) and their configuration seen on color Doppler sonohysterography were compared with those obtained on the excised specimen. Microvessel density and histologic features were correlated to the visualization of vessels greater than 0.5 mm and their arrangement on color Doppler sonography.

RESULTS

The color Doppler sonographic findings in 18 polyps, 3 submucosal fibroids, and 1 clot showed distinct vascularity patterns. Polyps typically contained a single feeding vessel, whereas fibroids had several vessels, which arose from the inner myometrium. Lesions with higher microvessel density tended to have more vessels greater than 0.5 mm as depicted on color Doppler sonography.

CONCLUSIONS

Color Doppler sonohysterography may be useful in distinguishing polyps from submucosal fibroids based on the vascularity of the lesions. The number of vessels seen on color Doppler sonography approximates microvessel density within the lesions.