Arcuate uterus
Updates to Article Attributes
An arcuate uterus is onea mildly variant shape of the uterus. It is technically one of the Müllerian duct anomalies and, but is often classified as a normal variant. It is the anomalyuterine anomaly that is most least commonly not associated with reproductive failure. It is sometimes classified as a normal variantArcuate uterus can be characterized with ultrasound or MRI.
Pathology
An arcuate uterus is characterized by a mild indentation of the endometrium at the uterine fundus. It occurs as the resultdue to a failure of near complete resorption of the uterovaginal septum.
It can be distinguished from a bicornuate uterus onbasismost common Mullarian duct anomaly, affecting 3.9% of its complete fundal unificationthe general population 7.
Radiographic features
General features include:
- normal fundal contour
- no division of uterine horns
- smooth indentation of fundal endometrial canal - the depth of indentation is usually considered to be <
; 1cm;1 cm - increased transverse diameter of uterine cavity
Hysterosalpingogram
Opacification of the endometrial cavity demonstrates a single uterine canal with a broad saddle-shaped indentation of the uterine fundus.
Pelvic ultrasound
A normal external uterine contour is noted, with a broad smooth indentation on the fundal segment of the endometrium. No division of the uterine horns.
Hysterosalpingogram
Opacification of the endometrial cavity demonstrates a single uterine canal with a broad saddle-shaped indentation of the uterine fundus.
MRI
A normal external uterine contour is maintained. The myometrial fundal indentation is smooth and broad, and the signal intensity of this region is iso-intense to normal myometrium.
Differential diagnosis
-
septate uterus
- arcuate uterus and septate uterus exist on a spectrum from least to most resorption of the uterovaginal septum, respectively
-
bicornuate uterus
- arcuate uterus can be distinguished from a bicornuate uterus on the basis of its complete fundal unification (i.e. the arcuate uterus has a normal or slightly indented external fundal contour, whereas the bicornuate has a more marked fundal indentation, no more than 5 mm above the level of the uterine horns)
-<p>An<strong> arcuate uterus</strong> is one of the <a title="Müllerian duct anomalies" href="/articles/mullerian-duct-anomalies">Müllerian duct anomalies</a> and the anomaly that is most commonly <strong>not </strong>associated with reproductive failure. It is sometimes classified as a normal variant.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>An arcuate uterus is characterized by a mild indentation of the endometrium at the uterine fundus. It occurs as the result of near complete resorption of the uterovaginal septum.</p><p>It can be distinguished from a <a title="Bicornuate uterus" href="/articles/bicornuate_uterus">bicornuate uterus</a> on the basis of its complete fundal unification.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>General features include:</p><ul>-<li>normal fundal contour</li>-<li>no division of <a href="/articles/uterine-horns">uterine horns</a> </li>-<li>smooth indentation of fundal <a href="/articles/endometrial-canal">endometrial canal</a> - the depth of indentation is usually considered to be < 1cm</li>-<li>increased transverse diameter of <a href="/articles/uterine-cavity">uterine cavity</a> </li>-</ul><h5>Hysterosalpingogram</h5><p>Opacification of the endometrial cavity demonstrates a single uterine canal with a broad saddle-shaped indentation of the uterine fundus. </p><h5>Pelvic ultrasound</h5><p>A normal external uterine contour is noted, with a broad smooth indentation on the fundal segment of the endometrium. No division of the uterine horns.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>A normal external uterine contour is maintained. The myometrial fundal indentation is smooth and broad, and the signal intensity of this region is iso-intense to normal myometrium.</p>- +<p>An<strong> arcuate uterus</strong> is a mildly variant shape of the uterus. It is technically one of the <a href="/articles/mullerian-duct-anomalies">Müllerian duct anomalies</a>, but is often classified as a normal variant. It is the uterine anomaly that is least commonly<strong> </strong>associated with reproductive failure. Arcuate uterus can be characterized with ultrasound or MRI.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>An arcuate uterus is characterized by a mild indentation of the endometrium at the uterine fundus. It occurs due to a failure of complete resorption of the uterovaginal septum. It is the most common Mullarian duct anomaly, affecting 3.9% of the general population <sup>7</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>General features include:</p><ul>
- +<li>normal fundal contour</li>
- +<li>no division of <a href="/articles/uterine-horns">uterine horns</a>
- +</li>
- +<li>smooth indentation of fundal <a href="/articles/endometrial-canal">endometrial canal</a> - the depth of indentation is usually considered to be <1 cm</li>
- +<li>increased transverse diameter of <a href="/articles/uterine-cavity">uterine cavity</a>
- +</li>
- +</ul><h5>Pelvic ultrasound</h5><p>A normal external uterine contour is noted, with a broad smooth indentation on the fundal segment of the endometrium. No division of the uterine horns.</p><h5>Hysterosalpingogram</h5><p>Opacification of the endometrial cavity demonstrates a single uterine canal with a broad saddle-shaped indentation of the uterine fundus.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>A normal external uterine contour is maintained. The myometrial fundal indentation is smooth and broad, and the signal intensity of this region is iso-intense to normal myometrium.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/septate-uterus">septate uterus</a><ul><li>arcuate uterus and septate uterus exist on a spectrum from least to most resorption of the uterovaginal septum, respectively</li></ul>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/bicornuate-uterus">bicornuate uterus</a><ul><li>arcuate uterus can be distinguished from a <a href="/articles/bicornuate-uterus">bicornuate uterus</a> on the basis of its complete fundal unification (i.e. the arcuate uterus has a normal or slightly indented external fundal contour, whereas the bicornuate has a more marked fundal indentation, no more than 5 mm above the level of the uterine horns)</li></ul>
- +</li>
- +</ul>
References changed:
- 7. Behr SC, Courtier JL, Qayyum A. Imaging of müllerian duct anomalies. Radiographics. 2012;32 (6): E233-50. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1148/rg.326125515">doi:10.1148/rg.326125515</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23065173">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
Tags changed:
- uterus
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.