Virtual hysteroscopy by multidetector computed tomography

Abstract

Currently accepted techniques that evaluate the uterus and female reproductive system in the infertility workup algorithm include hysterosonography, hysteroscopy and hysterosalpingography. Based on high speed multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) which can acquire high-quality volumetric data of the pelvic region in a single brief scan, MDCT virtual hysteroscopy is proposed as a developing, non-invasive alternative diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of uterine pathology and other gynecologic disorders. Findings of the technique are illustrated.

Virtual Hysterosalpingography: Its Place in the Workup of Infertile Women

“…Authors have listed a radiation dose level of 2.6 mSv for a virtual HSG which is permissible as per ACR guidelines [6][7][8]. However, in our patients, the dose is much higher than this value and we would not recommend it based on this fact alone.…”

“…Drawbacks include its exposure to radiation and patient discomfort. In the past years, reports have been put to print on the role of virtual HSG [6][7][8]. Carrascosa et al have fervently promoted virtual HSG as one that provides 'comprehensive and highly accurate evaluation of both the female reproductive system and pelvic anatomy.'…”

Clinical use of 64-row multislice computed tomography hysterosalpingography in the evaluation of female factor infertility

“…In a recent publication (16), our group reported our initial experience using the 16-row MSCT-H in the evaluation of cervical, uterine, and tubal pathology. In that series, all MSCT-H examinations achieved competent display of cervical and endometrial cavity abnormalities, but the MSCT-H performance was limited in the visualization and evaluation of the fallopian tubes; better results were obtained with the X-ray HSG.…”

Virtual Hysterosalpingography: A New Multidetector CT Technique for Evaluating the Female Reproductive System

“…Therefore, small endometrial lesions are easily obscured by a large quantity of contrast material on late hysterosalpingograms. The nearly isotropic image data sets acquired at virtual hysterosalpingography permit easy detection of small lesions on multiplanar and virtual endoscopic images (26). The high spatial resolution and variety of postprocessing algorithms available at multidetector CT may allow a more precise characterization of elevated lesions of different sizes than is possible even at hysteroscopy.…”