Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Elfeky M, Alhusseiny K, Gupta S, et al. Feeding artery sign (endometrial polyp). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 24 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-99536
Feeding artery sign (a.k.a. pedicle artery sign) refers to the presence of a single feeding artery to endometrial lesion using color/power Doppler on ultrasonography. It is often seen in endometrial polyps 1. The feeding vessel indicates the stalk attachment of the polyp to the uterus.
Endometrial polyps may be isoechoic and sometimes hard to detect on B-mode ultrasound. The presence of a prominent feeding artery to an endometrial lesion on the application of color Doppler creates a very high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of an endometrial polyp and aids in its detection even in asymptomatic patients 1.
The presence of a vascular pedicle is 76% sensitive and 95% specific for endometrial polyps 2.
Differential diagnosis
This sign is not pathognomonic for endometrial polyps, as it can occasionally be seen with submucosal fibroids or endometrial carcinoma.
Submucosal fibroid may show a rim-like vessel pattern, with a surrounding circular or semicircular vessel, or with a few small scattered accompanying vessels 3.
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1. Jakab A, Ovári L, Juhász B, Birinyi L, Bacskó G, Tóth Z. Detection of Feeding Artery Improves the Ultrasound Diagnosis of Endometrial Polyps in Asymptomatic Patients. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2005;119(1):103-7. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.06.044 - Pubmed
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2. Gupta A, Desai A, Bhatt S. Imaging of the Endometrium: Physiologic Changes and Diseases: Women's Imaging. Radiographics. 2017;37(7):2206-7. doi:10.1148/rg.2017170008 - Pubmed
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3. Cil A, Tulunay G, Kose M, Haberal A. Power Doppler Properties of Endometrial Polyps and Submucosal Fibroids: A Preliminary Observational Study in Women with Known Intracavitary Lesions. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2010;35(2):233-7. doi:10.1002/uog.7470 - Pubmed
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4. Fleischer A & Shappell H. Color Doppler Sonohysterography of Endometrial Polyps and Submucosal Fibroids. J Ultrasound Med. 2003;22(6):601-4. doi:10.7863/jum.2003.22.6.601 - Pubmed
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5. Amreen S, Singh M, Choh N, Saldanha C, Gojwari T. Doppler Evaluation of Endometrial Polyps. The Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. 2018;49(3):850-3. doi:10.1016/j.ejrnm.2018.03.005
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