Endovaginal sonographic diagnosis of dilated fallopian tubes.

Abstract

Twelve cases of fallopian tube dilatation were diagnosed in 10 patient by using endovaginal sonography. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery in seven patients and by hysterosalpingography in three. A tubular shape was present in every case. Other sonographic features included a well-defined echogenic wall, a folded configuration, and linear echoes protruding into the tube lumen. Dilated tubes were distinguished from bowel loops by a lack of peristaltic activity and from pelvic veins by a lack of moving low-level echoes on real-time sonography. We conclude that the findings of dilated fallopian tubes on endovaginal sonography are sufficiently characteristic to allow the diagnosis to be made with this technique.