Undescended ovary without abnormal development of uterus and urinary system: a report of four cases

Background Congenital anatomic abnormalities of fallopian tubes and ovaries are rarely reported. Herein, we describe four cases of undescended ovary during laparoscopic surgery with abnormal anatomy of fallopian tube, yet without abnormal uterine development and urinary system abnormalities, which are analyzed by their clinical features and effects on reproductive function. Case presentation For the patients with undescended ovary, the location of unilateral or bilateral upper poles of the ovaries were usually much higher than that of the bifurcation of the common iliac vessel, and the fallopian tubes at the same side opened in the para-colonic sulcus. Among these four patients, two patients had primary infertility, one patient had tubal pregnancy rupture and bleeding, and one patient had uterine leiomyoma. The development of uterus was normal in all cases, and there was no abnormal development of urinary system. During the infertility examination, the fact that fallopian tubes lifted up in hysterosalpingography (HSG) might be regarded as an indicator of possible undescended ovary. The pelvic ultrasonography examination was of limited use in diagnosing undescended ovary. Conclusion Laparoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of undescended ovary. When there is periodic post-sacral spinal pain, MRI or HSG can be used for diagnosis of undescended ovary.

Unicornuate Uterus with Rudimentary Horn as a Rare Etiology of Secondary Dysmenorrhea: A Case Report

Congenital uterine anomalies are an uncommon type of female genital malformations caused by abnormal development of müllerian ducts during embryogenesis. Patients with an obstructive uterine anomaly have a higher risk of developing gynecological and obstetric complications that may present at menarche or later in life. We present a case of severe dysmenorrhea in a young teenager caused by obstructive hematometra in a noncommunicating horn of the unicornuate uterus. A differential diagnosis of a possible anomaly was made using 2-dimensional pelvic ultrasonography, which was later confirmed using MRI that revealed an anomalous uterine cavity with a single left-sided cornua communicating with the cervix and a distended right-sided rudimentary horn. She underwent a right salpingectomy with rudimentary horn excision, which was successfully managed laparoscopically. This case emphasizes the importance of physicians being cognizant in identifying patients with uterine anomaly to provide appropriate treatment and prevent adverse reproductive outcomes.

The Role of Diagnostic Laparoscopy in the Unexplained Infertility Cases

Purpose: The study examines how useful laparoscopy is in finalizing the diagnosis of unexplained infertility. Materials: The study included 50 women with 1 year or 2 years of infertility, who had a regular marital life with unprotected intercourse for more than a year, normal husband's semen analysis, normal ovulation by folliculometry, normal hormonal profile, and normal hysterosalpingogram at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Aswan University Hospital from January to December 2019. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study involving 50 women who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy after investigations and imaging failed to reveal the cause of infertility. During the procedure, the pelvis was inspected for any pathology, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, round ligaments, ureterovesical pouch, uterosacral ligaments, Douglas pouch, and ovarian fossae. Results: Diagnostic laparoscopy helped uncover abnormal pathologies such as endometriosis, adhesions, and tubal pathologies in 30 women (60%) of the 50 included in the study, whereas no abnormality was detected in the remaining 20 (40%). Conclusion: Laparoscopy is not only a crucial diagnostic technique in infertility patients, but it can also help with treatment selections. Conducting laparoscopy in cases of unexplained infertility is linked to both peritubular adhesions and pelvic endometriosis. These pelvic disorders might not be appropriately detected or treated without laparoscopy, and hysterosalpingography and basic imaging such as pelvic ultrasonography are frequently ignored.

THE INFORMATIVE VALUE OF PELVIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN RECURRENT EXTERNAL GENITAL ENDOMETRIOSIS

Background. In the structure of gynecological diseases, endometriosis ranks II after inflammatory diseases of the genitals and uterine myoma. The incidence of genital endometriosis is 92–94%, with an annual incidence ranging from 0,1% to 0,3%. The disease is characterized by tumor-like type of growth, affection of adjacent organs, and severe complications that lead to disability in patients. Aim. To study the informative value of ultrasound examination of the reproductive system organs in recurrent external genital endometriosis. Material and methods. Forty-eight patients with recurrent external genital endometriosis were examined. The mean age of the patients was (34,96±1,1) years. The history of endometriosis was in the range of (10,0±1,41) years (9–11). Recurrence rate averaged (2,02±0,44) years (1–4). The duration of remission averaged (6,1±0,84) years (1–15). All the patients underwent ultrasound examination with a transvaginal transducer. The length, width, anteroposterior uterine size, M-echo, and length and width of both ovaries were determined. Echographic features of endometrioid ovarian cysts and retrocervical endometrioid infiltrate were evaluated during ultrasound examination. The findings were compared with the echographic findings in women (n=20) with no history of endometriosis (comparison group). Results and discussion. Transvaginal ultrasonography in recurrent external genital endometriosis showed a significant increase in the echographic dimensions of uterine length (54,3±0,41) mm, width (47,9±0,13) mm, anteroposterior dimension (56,1±0,18) mm, endometrial thickness (6,6±0,09) mm, and increased echographic dimensions of both ovaries (p<0,05). Transvaginal ultrasound examination is informative in the diagnosis of endometrioid ovarian cysts. In 75,6% of patients, it manifests as a fluid mass with a heterogeneous suspension. In 75% of patients, retrocervical endometrioid infiltrate manifests as a heterogeneous, hypoechogenic, painful mass located behind the uterus. Conclusion. Transvaginal ultrasound is informative in the diagnosis of endometrioid ovarian cysts. Echographic diagnosis of endometrioid infiltrates of the vesicoureteral peritoneal fold, sacroiliac, broad uterine ligaments, and pelvic peritoneum presents difficulties, which justifies the necessity of laparoscopic diagnosis.

Central Precocious Puberty in a Three-Year-Old Girl

Precocious puberty is defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics before 8 years of age in girls and 9 years in boys. Central Precocious Puberty (CPP) is caused by early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Laboratory test of LH, FSH, and Estradiol is recommended for monitoring suppressive effects from GnRHa therapy in the early three months and every six months. This study aimed to report a case of CPP in a 3-year and 3-month-old girl. A 3-year and 3-month-old girl went to the hospital with vaginal bleeding (menstruation), breast development, and pubic and axilla hair for 7-month-old. Physical examination found moderately ill with obesity, body weight 20 kg, height 98 cm. Tanner stage was A2M3P2, café au lait was found in the left forehead with size 7x3.5 cm. In March 2015 before GnRHa therapy, LH, FSH and Estradiol level increased with levels of 4.32 mlU/mL, 6.01 mlU/mL, and 67 pg/mL, and after 3 months of the treatment was 0.87 mlU/mL, 2.51 mlU/mL and <20 pg/mL. Pelvic ultrasonography showed suggestive precocious puberty, bone age 5-year and 9-month (Greulich and Pyle), CT-Scan of the brain showed hypothalamic tumor suspected hypothalamic hamartoma. This patient was treated with a GnRHa injection every 4 weeks. Leuprorelin is a synthetic non-peptide analogue of natural GnRH. The diagnosis was based on medical history, physical examination, laboratory, and radiological findings. The prognosis of the patient was good.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Female Pelvic Ultrasonography in Differentiating Precocious Puberty From Premature Thelarche: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BackgroundThe gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is the benchmark for diagnosing precocious puberty (PP). However, it is invasive, time-consuming, costly, and may create an unpleasant experience for participants. Moreover, some overlaps may occur between PP and premature thelarche (PT) in the early stage of PP. Female pelvic ultrasonography may provide additional information to help differentiate PP from PT and subsequently initiate early treatment. In this study, we aimed to first directly compare pelvic ultrasonography parameters between PP and PT groups and secondly, investigate their diagnostic accuracy compared with the GnRH stimulation test.MethodsA systematic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases was performed up to March 31, 2021. All types of studies, except for case reports and review articles, were included. The GnRH stimulation test was used to confirm PP diagnosis. Those whose organic conditions might cause PP were excluded. The mean, standard deviation, sensitivity, and specificity of each parameter were documented. Forest plots were constructed to display the estimated standardized mean differences (SMDs) from each included study and the overall calculations. A bivariate model was used to calculate the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR).ResultsA total of 13 studies were included for analysis. The SMDs (95% confidence interval – CI) in ovarian volume, fundal-cervical ratio, uterine length, uterine cross-sectional area, and uterine volume between PP and PT groups were 1.12 (0.78–1.45; p &lt; 0.01), 0.90 (0.07–1.73; p = 0.03), 1.38 (0.99–1.78; p &lt; 0.01), 1.06 (0.61–1.50; p &lt; 0.01), and 1.21 (0.84–1.58; p &lt;0.01), respectively. A uterine length of 3.20 cm yielded a pooled sensitivity of 81.8% (95% CI 78.3%–84.9%), specificity of 82.0% (95% CI 61.0%–93.0%), PLR of 4.56 (95% CI 2.15–9.69), NLR of 0.26 (95% CI 0.17–0.39), and DOR of 19.62 (95% CI 6.45–59.68). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.82.ConclusionFemale pelvic ultrasonography may serve as a complementary tool to the GnRH stimulation test in differentiating PP from PT.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021232427, ID: CRD42021232427.

Sonoelastographic assessment of the normal uterus and ovaries using the Shear Wave Elastography according to different menstrual phases

Objective: In most of the gynecological studies conducted using the Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) method in the literature, the menstrual cycle period was not taken into account. Current study, we aimed to describe the sonoelastographic features of normal myometrium and ovaries in healthy women and to define their variability during the different phases of the menstrual cycle using the SWE method. Material and methods: All cases were selected from individuals between the ages of 24-31, with regular menstrual cycles and no systemic disease. Each case was called in, 1-5th, 12-16th, 21-24th day of their menstrual cycles and was evaluated by B-mode imaging and SWE in pelvic ultrasonography. The relationship of menstrual phases with uterine and ovarian elasticity was investigated by comparing all measurements made in different menstrual phases. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between the volume of right and left ovaries in terms (p> 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of elastography measurements obtained from the uterus, right and left ovaries for each menstrual phase according to Bonferroni Correction (p> 0.0163). Conclusion: Although there was a slight decrease in myometrial SWE measurements in the follicular phase, there was no significant difference regarding the SWE measurements of uterus and ovaries in early follicular, peri-ovulatory, and luteal menstrual stages. Further studies with a large number of participants are needed to suggest whether gynecological studies planned to be carried out with the shear wave elastography method should be planned in a specific menstrual phase.

Urinary Schistosomiasis in an Elderly Patient: The Ultrasonographic Findings and Case Report

Urinary schistosomiasis (US) causes chronic ill health and caused by the blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium. This disease is endemic in Africa and eastern Mediterranean countries, and has a predilection for the male gender. This is a 64-year-old farmer (swampy farming and fishing) for more than forty years, that was referred from a peripheral health care centre for abdominal and pelvic ultrasonography on account of abdominal pain and discomfort, bilateral loin pain, dysuria, and terminal hematuria for close to a year duration of onset. The ultrasonography demonstrated bladder wall thickening, mucosal thickening and polypoid proliferation in to the bladder lumen, irregular echogenic crust in the bladder base, suspended mobile echoes in urine most likely from hematoma and/or cystitis, there is associated mild-moderate biliterate dilatation of the pelvi-calyceal systems and ureters(hydroureteronephrosis). The remaining abdominal and pelvic organs appeared normal. Urinary parasitology demonstrated the ova of Schistosoma haematobium confirming the diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis. We report the ultrasonographic features of urinary schistosomiasis because of its peculiar presentation and to emphasize importance of ultrasound in its assessment.

Case Report: Spontaneous perforation of a bicornuate uterus with concomitant sarcoma

A 47-year-old nulliparous, virginal woman presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain. Emergency pelvic ultrasonography and abdominal CT were taken, which showed a significant amount of hemoperitoneum and a bicornuate uterus with about 18cm x 10cm mass on the left uterus. Since the mass had increased vascularity and irregular margins, we thought that the mass could be a uterine sarcoma. Pelvic MRI and PET/CT were taken additionally for oncologic evaluation before surgery. Intraoperative findings showed a ruptured bicornuate uterus with a large mass within the left uterine horn. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Pathologic analysis confirmed an undifferentiated uterine sarcoma. Therefore, we report a case of spontaneous rupture of bicornuate uterus with concomitant sarcoma occurred in a 47-year-old woman.