The role of three-dimensional power Doppler hysterosonography (3-DPDS) in distinguishing atypical polypoid adenomyomas (APAs) from other intrauterine tumors: correlation with pathologic findings.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to describe the sonographic characteristics of atypical polypoid adenomyomas (APAs) of the uterus and to determine the value of three-dimensional power Doppler hysterosonography (3-DPDS) in distinguishing APA from other polypoid uterine tumors.

METHODS: Ninety-five women with a mean age of 37 years (range 28-45) with a suspicious polypoid uterine tumor were referred for preoperative evaluation with 3-DPDS. Sonographic criteria used for the diagnosis of APA were based on a system that consisted of morphological characteristics, histological evaluation and power Doppler imaging. Biopsy samples of the intrauterine tumors were obtained via operative hysteroscopy.

RESULTS: Fifteen lesions were histopathologically diagnosed as APAs, 25 as endometrial polyps and 55 as submucous myomas. In the present study, the sensitivity and specificity of 3-DPDSs in discriminating APA from other polypoid tumors was 82.5 and 86.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: APAs can be accurately distinguished from other polypoid tumors of the uterus with the use of 3-DPDS demonstrating the following characteristics: lobular tumor with inhomogeneous echotexture, echogenicity similar to myometrium, broad base, acoustic shadow and linear vessel arrangement.