The Common Vein Copyright 2010
Introduction
Size and the Menstrual Cycle
The cyclical changes of the menstrual cycle present a continual change of events controlled by a series of integrated hormonal events. These changes are most easily observed in the endometrium by ultrasound. During the menses, the endometrium sheds and becomes thinner, the junctional zone is irregulalrly thick, and the myometrium loses water and thins.
During the menstrual phase (days 1- 4) the the endometrium is thin and typically is seen as a single echogenic line by ultrasound examination, and measuring between 1-4mm thick reflecting the early development of glands and stroma.(Nalaboff)
During the proliferative phase (days 4-14) the endometrium is of intermediate thickness. In the early phase as the glands, stroma and vessels start to regenerate the stripe is echogenic and slightly thicker measuring and measures between 5-7mms thick by ultrasound. Later as the the tissue matures in the preovulatory phase the stripe has a typical trilaminar appearance and thickness measures up to 11mms. (Nalaboff)
During the secretory phase (days 15-28) the endometrium is at its thickest in midsecretory phase and has a typical homogeneously echogenic appearance. It usually measures between 7-16mms. (Nalaboff)
Changes in the Endometrial Stripe
During the menstrual cycle the ultrasound appearance can characterise and date the phase of the cycle. (Nalaboff) Following menses there is a thin echogenic line which measures between 1-4mms, (Nalaboff) which progressively thickens and changes to a multilayered configuration. On ultrasound the measurement is from echogenic border to echogenic border in the sagittal plane.
First Week Post Menstruation |
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In the proliferative phase (day6-14) the endometrium thickens to 5-7mmsand becomes more echogenic than the myometrium.This reflects growth of the endometrial glands blood vessels and stroma, stimulated by estrogen production by the ovarian follicles. This proliferative endometrium is structurally and functionallly prepared for implantation of the fertilised egg. In the late proliferative phase (periovulatory phase), the endometrium becomes multilayered, with an echogenic basal layer, hypoechoic inner functional layer and a thin echogenic line
Trilaminar Appearance – Midcycle Preovulation |
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Following ovulation, the endometrium is under the influence of progesterone secretion by the corpus luteum. The endometrial glands fill up with mucus. The resulting appearance of the endometrium is a thick echogenic structure (secretory phase) The endometrium is at its thickest at this stage (< 14mm). As luteinizing hormone levels fall in the latter phase of the cycle, the level of progesterone falls, and there is shedding of the endometrium. Thus, the cyclical changes of the endometrium (invisible, thin echogenic, multi-layered, thick echogenic) reflect the phases of the menstrual cycle. “Transvaginal ultrasound revealing an endometrial stripe of less than 5 mm is reassuring and essentially rules out cancer (3). An endometrial stripe greater than 4 mm necessitates endometrial sampling, preferably with in-office use of a Pipelle endometrial suction curette or similar device”
In the periovulatory phase the myometrium and endometrium start to thicken, and the junctional zone becomes more easily identified (Kido
There are 3 distinct zones or parts of the uterus which vary in size and character during each of the menstrual phases.
Endometrial Changes During the Cycle
During the follicular phase (proliferative phase) which occurs in the first half of the cycle, and after the shedding of the endometrial lining, there is a rise in estrogen which causes the endometrial lining to start to thicken. In mid cycle after ovulation, luteinizing hormone is released, which heralds in the luteal phase (aka secretory phase). Progesterone now rises and further proliferation of the endometrium occurs. In the absence of pregnancy progesterone levels and estrogen levels fall, and the endometrium sheds. The cervical canal has a maximal dimension of 8mms.
Premenstrual Endometrium End of Secretory Phase |
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Menstruation |
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Myometrial Changes
The myometrium is largest in the second half of the cycle – the midsecretory phase. The myometrium is thickest at this time due to mild edema, but this is not easily observed by imaging techniques.
Junctional Zone Changes
During the midsecretory phase the junctional zone thins out.
In the post menopausal woman the average size of the uterus is 5cms in craniocaudad span by 2cms.(Fleischer )
In virgin state the uterus is flattened antero-posteriorly and is pyriform in shape, with the apex directed downward and backward. The bladder is to anterior and rectum is related to it posteriorly. It is a pelvic organ suspended by broad ligament and round ligament superiorly to pelvic fibrous tissue inferiorly.
The Post Menopausal Uterus
The postmenopausal uterus should measure about 3.5 – 7.5cms in c-c span by 1.7-3.3cms in A-P by 2-4 cms in transverse.
The Small Uterus Age Related Involution |
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Post Menopausal Uterus |
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Endometrial Stripe in the Post Menopausal Uterus |
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Single Large Fibroid Causing Uterine Enlargement |
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Cervical Carcinma and Obstruction |
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References
Fleischer AC, Kepple DM. Normal pelvic anatomy as depicted by various sonographic techniques. In: Fleischer AC, Javitt MC, Jeffrey RB, Jones HW, III, eds. Clinical gynecologic imaging. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott-Raven, 1997; 10-41.
Nalaboff, Kenneth M. MD, Pellerito, John S. MD and Ben-Levi, Eran MD Imaging the Endometrium: Disease and Normal Variants RadioGraphics, 21, 1409-1424. November 2001