[Ultrasonic assessment of the development of the uterus in childhood]

Abstract

In 150 girls from the newborn period up to the 18. year the size of the uterus was measured by sonography. In all children the length, width, depth and volume of the uterus as well as its shape and other signs of development were determined. In the newborn period and in the following first months of life an estrogen stimulated uterus with the shape of a drop could be shown. The size of the uterus decreased till the end of the first year. The length of the uterus in the neonatal period was 4.0 +/- 0.5 cm, the volume was 3.6 +/- 1.9 cm3. In the following rest phase up to the age of 8 years the length of the uterus was 2.8 +/- 0.4 cm and the volume was 1.2 +/- 0.4 cm3. The shape of the uterus in this age group was tubular. One to two years before secondary pubertal signs could be shown, sonography already demonstrated the beginning of pubertal uterus growth. In the postpubertal period the uterus had the typical pear shape with a corpus/cervix-relation of 2:1. In the postpubertal period the length was 6.8 +/- 1 cm with a volume of 33 +/- 22 cm3. The knowledge of the normal developmental dates of the uterus in children is essential for the diagnosis of malformations and tumours of the pelvis, but also for the diagnosis of distorted puberty such as pubertas praecox, pubertas tarda, amenorrhea and growth retardation.