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. 2018 May;61(3):395-403.
doi: 10.5468/ogs.2018.61.3.395. Epub 2018 Apr 23.

Doppler sonography of perifibroid and intrafibroid arteries of uterine leiomyomas

Bukunmi Michael Idowu  1 , Bolanle Olubunmi Ibitoye  1
Affiliations

Doppler sonography of perifibroid and intrafibroid arteries of uterine leiomyomas

Bukunmi Michael Idowu et al. Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2018 May.

Abstract

Objective: To sonographically evaluate the dominant fibroid nodule vascularity and flow velocity pattern of perifibroid and intrafibroid arteries.

Methods: We recruited 140 women with uterine fibroids. Their uteri were scanned to determine the vascularity of fibroid nodules and the Doppler indices of the fibroid arteries.

Results: The median volume of the dominant leiomyoma nodule was 133 cm3 (range=1.5-2,575 cm3). Eighty-three subjects (59.3%) had a dominant leiomyoma nodule volume of ≤200.0 cm3 while the volume of the dominant leiomyoma nodule was >200.0 cm3 in 57 (40.7%) subjects. The dominant fibroid nodule was vascular in 137 (97.9%) subjects and avascular in 3 (2.1%). All the perifibroid artery indices (except the end-diastolic velocity [EDV] and diastolic average ratio [DAR]) are significantly higher than those of the intrafibroid artery. The mean Doppler indices of perifibroid vs. intrafibroid arteries as follows: peak systolic velocity (PSV; 52.1 vs. 45.4 cm/s); EDV (21.1 vs. 22.4 cm/s); time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMX; 31.5 vs. 30.4 cm/s); time- averaged mean velocity (Tmean; 14.3 vs. 13.8 cm/s); pulsatility index (PI; 1.1 vs. 0.8); resistive index (RI; 0.6 vs. 0.5); systolic-diastolic ratio (SDR; 2.7 vs. 2.1); impedance index (ImI; 2.7 vs. 2.1); and DAR (0.66 vs. 0.74); P<0.001 for all indices.

Conclusion: The predominant pattern of fibroid vascularity is peripheral vascularity and the perifibroid artery indices (except EDV and DAR) are significantly higher than those of the intrafibroid artery. Recurrent fibroids in women with previous myomectomy had significantly higher intrafibroid PI, RI, SDR, and ImI than those without previous myomectomy.

Keywords: Doppler ultrasonography; Fibroid uterus; Leiomyoma; Myomectomy; Uterine artery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Longitudinal triplex sonogram of a myomatous uterus showing the waveform pattern and Doppler indices of a perifibroid (peripheral) artery.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Longitudinal triplex sonogram of a myomatous uterus showing the waveform pattern and Doppler indices of an intrafibroid (core) artery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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