Application of ultrasound in diagnosis of uterine prolapse by measuring area of levator hiatus

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the value of the area of levator hiatusin diagnosis of uterine prolapse. Methods: From September 2017 to December 2018, 80 patients diagnosed with uterine prolapse by Department of Gynecology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were selected as the case group, and 80 cases of normal women in the same period were selected as the control group. All subjects in both groups were examined by transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound. The anteroposterior and transverse diameters and the area of levator hiatus were measured at rest and during maximum Valsalva maneuver respectively. The ROC curve was drawn to determine the cut-off value of area of levator hiatus in diagnosis of uterine prolapse and to evaluate its diagnostic value. Results: At rest and during maximum Valsalva maneuver, the anteroposterior and transverse diameters and the area of levator hiatus in study group were larger than those in control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). During maximum Valsalva maneuver, the above values in both groups were greater than those of the same group at rest state, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). During maximum Valsalva maneuver, the best cut-off value of area of levator hiatus for the diagnosis of uterine prolapse was 22.09 cm(2), the area under curve was 0.893. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 90.0%, 95.0% and 92.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound can evaluate the morphological changes of levator hiatus in patients with uterine prolapse, and the area of levator hiatus has high diagnostic value for uterine prolapse.