Uterine Leiomyoma (Fibroid) Imaging

Updated: Dec 27, 2021
  • Author: Philip A Thomason, MD; Chief Editor: Eugene C Lin, MD  more...
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Practice Essentials

Leiomyomas of the uterus (or uterine fibroids) are benign tumors that arise from the overgrowth of smooth muscle and connective tissue in the uterus. Histologically, a monoclonal proliferation of smooth muscle cells occurs. A genetic predisposition to leiomyoma growth exists. Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are the most common benign gynecologic tumors. They primarily affect women of reproductive age, and the estimated incidence of fibroids is over 70% by 50 years of age. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]  

(The radiologic characteristics of these neoplasms are shown in the images below.)

Transabdominal sagittal sonogram shows a heterogen Transabdominal sagittal sonogram shows a heterogeneous but predominately hypoechoic posterior uterine fibroid.
Sagittal T2-weighted MRI shows a large heterogeneo Sagittal T2-weighted MRI shows a large heterogeneous fundal uterine fibroid.
CT scan shows a subserosal, 2.3- to 2.5-cm, right CT scan shows a subserosal, 2.3- to 2.5-cm, right anterior fundal uterine fibroid.

Rarely, uterine leiomyomas may undergo malignant degeneration to become a sarcoma. The true incidence of malignant transformation is difficult to determine, because leiomyomas are common, whereas malignant leiomyosarcomas are rare and can arise de novo. [6] The incidence of malignant degeneration is less than 1.0% and has been estimated to be as low as 0.2%.

Imaging modalities

Calcified fibroids are often depicted on conventional radiographs of the pelvis. Conventional radiographs have a limited role in the diagnosis of uterine fibroids, because only heavily calcified fibroids are depicted on radiographs. Extreme enlargement of the uterus resulting from fibroids may be seen as a nonspecific soft-tissue mass of the pelvis that possibly displaces loops of bowel.

The preferred imaging modality for the evaluation of uterine fibroids is ultrasonography (US)—specifically, transabdominal and transvaginal US.

Hysterosonography (or saline infusion sonography) may be considered to evaluate the endometrium and to provide improved US visualization of submucosal fibiods.

In some patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides additional information on the number, size, and precise location of fibroids. MRI is especially helpful in women with an extremely enlarged uterus, which can limit the success of US. Diffusion-weighted imaging may help evaluate treatment response to uterine artery embolization. [2]  

The role of computed tomography (CT) scanning is limited in the detection of uterine fibroids by the similar attenuation characteristics of fibroids and healthy myometrium, although some fibroids may be hypoattenuating. Fibroid calcifications may be more visible on CT scans than on conventional radiographs because of the superior contrast differentiation achieved with CT scanning. [7, 8]

Hysterosalpingography (HSG) may show submucosal fibroids if it is performed as part of an infertility workup, but HSG is not performed primarily for evaluation of fibroids.

Although angiography has no role in the diagnosis of uterine fibroids, it is used to guide uterine arterial embolization (UAE) of fibroids. UAE is a minimally invasive procedure performed by an interventional radiologist. Typically, UAE is carried out via a percutaneous femoral arterial approach. Both of the uterine arteries are individually selected with angiographic guidance and are embolized with 300-500 µm of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam particles. [9, 10]

Numerous studies have been published regarding treatment of uterine fibroids using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) guided by ultasound (US-HIFU) or MRI (MRI-HIFU). HIFU is a noninvasive treatment whereby uterine fibroids are thermally ablated by concentrating ultrasound energy on a small area, resulting in coagulation necrosis and destruction of selected tissue. HIFU has been shown to provide effective treatment for patients with fibroid-associated symptoms. The procedure requires precise coordination between the interventional radiologist, gynecologist, and anesthesiologist to ensure accurate treatment and patient safety. [11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19]

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Computed Tomography

Like radiography, CT scanning also has a limited role in the diagnosis of uterine fibroids. On CT scans, fibroids are usually indistinguishable from healthy myometrium unless they are calcified or necrotic. Calcifications may be more visible on CT scans than on conventional radiographs because of the superior contrast differentiation in CT scanning. (A fibroid has been identifed in the image below.)

CT scan shows a subserosal, 2.3- to 2.5-cm, right CT scan shows a subserosal, 2.3- to 2.5-cm, right anterior fundal uterine fibroid.
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRI has an important role in defining the anatomy of the uterus and ovaries, as well as in assessing disease in patients in whom ultrasound findings are confusing. MRI also may be helpful in planning myomectomy, or selective surgical removal of a fibroid. Fibroids appear as sharply marginated areas of low to intermediate signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted MRI scans. [2, 20, 21, 22] (A coronal, T2-weighted MRI fibroid scan is shown below.)

Coronal T2-weighted MRI shows an enlarged uterus w Coronal T2-weighted MRI shows an enlarged uterus with multiple fibroids.

One third of fibroids have a hyperintense rim on T2-weighted images (as demonstrated in the image below) as a result of dilated veins, lymphatics, or edema.

Sagittal T2-weighted MRI shows a fibroid located i Sagittal T2-weighted MRI shows a fibroid located in the lower uterus that has a partially hyperintense rim. A smaller discrete fibroid is depicted in the fundus.

An inhomogeneous area of high signal intensity (seen in the image below) may be depicted on T2-weighted images; this results from hemorrhage, hyaline degeneration, edema, or highly cellular fibroids.

Sagittal T2-weighted MRI shows a large heterogeneo Sagittal T2-weighted MRI shows a large heterogeneous fundal uterine fibroid.

Data suggest that less stiff fibroids appear lighter on T2-weighted MRI, while stiffer fibroids are darker on T2-weighted images. [20]

The intravenous administration of gadolinium-based contrast material usually is not required; however, if it is administered, fibroids usually enhance later than does the healthy myometrium. Fibroid enhancement can be hypointense (65%), isointense (23%), or hyperintense (12%) in relation to that of the myometrium.

Gadolinium-based contrast agents have been linked to the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) or nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD). The disease has occurred in patients with moderate to end-stage renal disease after being given a gadolinium-based contrast agent to enhance MRI or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) scans. NSF/NFD is a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease. Characteristics include red or dark patches on the skin; burning, itching, swelling, hardening, and tightening of the skin; yellow spots on the whites of the eyes; joint stiffness with trouble moving or straightening the arms, hands, legs, or feet; pain deep in the hip bones or ribs; and muscle weakness.

The primary limitation of MRI is the high cost. Its availability in terms of time and location is another factor that determines its usefulness. Additionally, patients with pacemakers or certain metallic foreign bodies cannot undergo MRI. Claustrophobia is a relative contraindication.

MRI degree of confidence

MRI has a sensitivity of 86-92%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 97% in the evaluation of probable fibroids. In one study, MRI findings were assessed in helping predict early posttherapeutic response after uterine artery embolization (UAE) in 15 patients with 52 fibroids. The signal intensity ratios (SIRs) on T1-weighted images and gadolinium-enhanced images were useful for the prediction of the changes in size of fibroids responding to UAE. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) in the prediction of the affected lesions were 92%, 50%, and 0.712 with SIR on T1-weighted images, and 85%, 62%, and 0.731 with SIR on gadolinium-enhanced images, respectively. [21]

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Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography is the imaging modality of choice in the detection and evaluation of uterine fibroids. [23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29]  Most fibroids are intramural; that is, they are located in the myometrium (as seen in the first image below). However, they can be submucosal or subserosal (as demonstrated in the second image below).

Sagittal sonogram shows a posterior, fundal, 4.2 X Sagittal sonogram shows a posterior, fundal, 4.2 X 3.5-cm intramural uterine fibroid.
Sonogram shows a subserosal, 2.3- to 2.5-cm, right Sonogram shows a subserosal, 2.3- to 2.5-cm, right anterior fundal uterine fibroid.

Uterine fibroids most often appear on ultrasonograms as concentric, solid, hypoechoic masses. This appearance results from the prevailing muscle, which is observed at histologic examination. These solid masses absorb sound waves and therefore cause a variable amount of acoustic shadowing. (A hypoechoic fibroid is seen in the images below.)

Transabdominal sagittal sonogram shows a heterogen Transabdominal sagittal sonogram shows a heterogeneous but predominately hypoechoic posterior uterine fibroid.
More midline image obtained in the same patient as More midline image obtained in the same patient as in the previous image shows 2 markers that delineate the margins of the endometrial stripe.

Fibroids may vary in their degree of echogenicity; they can be heterogeneous or hyperechoic, depending on the amount of fibrous tissue and/or calcification. Fibroids may have anechoic components resulting from necrosis.

If fibroids are small and isoechoic relative to the uterus, the only ultrasonographic sign may be a bulge in the uterine contour. Fibroids in the lower uterine segment may obstruct the uterine canal, causing fluid to accumulate in the endometrial canal.

The echogenic endometrial stripe may be displaced by a fibroid. Calcifications are hyperechoic, with sharp acoustic shadowing. Diffuse leiomyomatosis appears as an enlarged uterus with abnormal echogenicity.

Magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound has been shown to be successful in reducing the size of fibroids. [26]

Vascular density, ischemic necrosis, and histologic cellular activity score have been found to be statistically significantly associated with some 3D power Doppler ultrasound indices. A high histologic cellular activity score, combining hypercellularity, a fibrosclerosis rate less than 25%, and positive Ki-67 staining, was found in one study to be statistically related in multivariate analyses to high 3D power Doppler VI in spherical samples and vascularization flow index (VFI). Positive CD31 staining was statistically related to high 3D power Doppler VI in spherical samples. In contrast, ischemic necrosis was statistically related to low 3D power Doppler VI in the total volume and VFI. [27]

Of 280 women who underwent magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS), the rate of minor complications was 3.9%, and there were 3 serious complications (1.1%), including one skin burn, a fibroid expulsion, and one case of persistent neuropathy. According to the authors of the study, the nonperfused volume (NPV) achieved following MRgFUS has increased as the experience with this treatment has grown. In a 5-year follow-up study of 162 women, the overall reintervention rate was 58.64%, but in those treatments with greater than 50% NPV, the reintervention rate was 50%. [28]

US degree of confidence

US has a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 99%, and an accuracy of 87%. Although the ultrasonographic appearance of fibroids usually is diagnostic, in fewer than 5% of patients, fibroids (especially when necrotic) may mimic normal pelvic structures (particularly the ovaries) and pathologic pelvic conditions, including uterine variants and pregnancy-related conditions. MRI results often clarify confusing pelvic ultrasonographic findings.

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