How gynecologic procedures and pharmacologic treatments can affect the uterus

Clinicians should be cognizant of the appearance of Asherman syndrome on imaging because patients reporting menstrual abnormalities, pelvic pain (FIGURE 1), infertility, and other symptoms may exhibit intrauterine lesions on sonohysterography, or sometimes unenhanced sonography if endometrial fluid/blood is present. Depending on symptoms and patient reproductive plans, treatment may be indicated.²

FIGURE 1 Asherman syndrome

Uterine changes post-endometrial ablation. Note hyperechoic endometrium with fluid collection and scarring.

Postablation endometrial destruction
Surgical destruction of the endometrium to the level of the basalis has been associated with the formation of intrauterine adhesions (FIGURE 2) as well as pockets of hematometra (FIGURE 3). In a large Cochrane systematic review, the reported rate of hematometra was 0.9% following non− resectoscopic ablation and 2.4% following resectoscopic ablation.⁴

FIGURE 2 Intrauterine changes postablation

Loculated fluid collections in the endometrium on transverse (A), sagittal (B), and 3 dimensional images (C) of a 41-year-old patient who presented with dysmenorrhea 3 years after an endometrial ablation procedure. The patient ultimately underwent transvaginal hysterectomy.

FIGURE 3 Postablation hematometrum

2 dimensional sonograms of a 40-year-old patient with a history of bilateral tubal ligation who presented for severe cyclic pelvic pain postablation.

Postablation tubal sterilization syndrome—cyclic cramping with or without vaginal bleeding—occurs in up to 10% of previously sterilized women who undergo endometrial ablation.⁴ The syndrome is thought to be caused by bleeding from active endometrium trapped at the uterine cornua by intrauterine adhesions postablation.

FIGURE 4 Cesarean scar defect with 1 previous cesarean delivery

Unenhanced sonogram in a 41-year-old patient. Myometrial notch is seen at both the endometrial surface and the serosal surface.

FIGURE 5 Cesarean scar defect with 3 previous cesarean deliveries

Unenhanced sonogram (A) and sonohysterogram (B) in a 40-year-old patient.

In patients with postablation tubal sterilization syndrome, imaging can reveal loculated endometrial fluid collections, hyperechoic foci/scarring, and a poorly defined endomyometrial interface. See ADDITIONAL CASES-Postablation at the bottom of this article for additional imaging case presentations.

Cesarean scar defect on imaging

In 1961, Poidevin first described the lower uterine segment myometrial notch or “niche,” now known as cesarean scar defect, as a wedge-shaped defect in the myometrium of women who had undergone cesarean delivery. He noted that it appeared after a 6-month healing period.⁵

Using sonography with Doppler to view the defect, it appears relatively avascular and may decrease in size over time (FIGURES 4 and 5). Studies now are focusing on sonographic measurement of the cesarean scar defect as a clinical predictor of outcome for future pregnancies, as uterine rupture and abnormal placentation, including cesarean scar ectopics, can be associated with it.^6-8

See ADDITIONAL CASES-Cesarean scar defect at the bottom of this article for 2 imaging case presentations.

Endometrial changes with tamoxifen use
Tamoxifen use causes changes in the endometrium that on sonography can appear concerning for endometrial cancer. These changes include endometrial thickening and hyperechogenicity as well as cystic and heterogenous areas.⁹

Despite this imaging presentation, endometrial changes on sonography in the setting of tamoxifen use have been shown to be a poor predictor of actual endometrial pathology. In a study by Gerber and colleagues, the endometrial thickness in patients taking tamoxifen increased from a mean of 3.5 mm pretreatment to a mean of 9.2 mm after 3-year treatment.⁹ Using a cutoff value of 10 mm for abnormal endometrial thickness, screening transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) resulted in a high false-positive rate and iatrogenic morbidity. Endometrial cancer was detected in only 0.4% of patients (1 case), atrophy in 73%, polyps in 4%, and hyperplasia in 2%.⁹

Thus, routine screening sonographic assessment of the endometrium in asymptomatic women taking tamoxifen is not recommended. For women presenting with abnormal bleeding or other concerns, however, TVUS is appropriate (CASES 1 and 2).

CASE 1 Endometrial polyps identified with tamoxifen use
A 56-year-old patient with a history of breast cancer presently taking tamoxifen presented with postmenopausal bleeding. Endometrial biopsy results revealed endometrial polyps.

CASE 2 Benign endometrial changes with tamoxifen use
A 50-year-old patient with a history of breast cancer currently taking tamoxifen presented with abnormal uterine bleeding. Endometrial biopsy results indicated benign endometrial changes.

ADDITIONAL CASES - Postablation

ADDITIONAL CASES - Cesarean scar defect

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