Study of the Vascularity of Uterine Septum Using Three Dimensional Power Doppler Ultrasound

Abstract

Abstract Background Uterine anomalies are a relatively common congenital abnormality, with uterine septum being the most common. This is even truer in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss, in whom rates of uterine abnormalities may approach 15% to 27%. Historically, the uterine septum has been approached via laparotomy through either a Tompkins or Jones procedure. These successful, but highly morbid, procedures require laparotomy with significant hospital stays, subsequent cesarean delivery, and have carried a high risk of adhesion formation. More recently, this surgery has been supplanted by hysteroscopy or other minimally invasive methodologies. Objective To assess the relation between the vascularity of uterine septum and obstetric performance with Transvaginal 3D Power Doppler Ultrasound. Patients and Methods Early Cancer Detection Unit and Ultrasound and Fetal special care Unit in Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital (ASUMH). Recruitment took place between May 2017 and November 2018. Cross-sectional study. The study included 30 cases of women with uterine septum. Intervention: Transvaginal 3D power Doppler ultrasound was done to all cases with septal volume and vascularity assessment using VOCAL system and Histogram facility. The study included 30 patients with septate uterus, twelve of them suffered from 1ry infertility while the other eighteen suffered from recurrent abortion. Results There was statistical significant difference between the two groups regarding vascularity (VI, FI, and VFI) of septum (P < 0.05). Conclusion The vascularity of septate uterus is variable. The power Doppler indices shows that septate uterus in cases with recurrent abortion is highly vascular while in cases with 1ry infertility shows low vascularity. Highly vascular septum may be a site of implantation which may be a cause of recurrent abortion thus; excision of the septum may help prevent recurrent abortion, while low vascular septum may prevent implantation which may be a cause of infertility thus; incision of the septum may help in treatment of infertility. Correlation with histopathologic features of septum may be required to decide the best management of the septum.