Accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound compared with magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of Müllerian duct anomalies using ESHRE-ESGE consensus on the classification of congenital anomalies of the female genital tract

Abstract

Objective: To establish the accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US), compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for diagnosing uterine anomalies, using the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology-European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESHRE-ESGE) consensus on the classification of congenital anomalies of the female genital tract.

Methods: Sixty women with uterine anomalies suspected after examination by conventional two-dimensional ultrasound were evaluated with 3D-US and MRI. These data were analyzed retrospectively to confirm the presence and type of uterine malformation in accordance with the ESHRE-ESGE consensus. Sensitivity, specificity and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were calculated, using MRI as the gold standard, and agreement between the two methods was evaluated by kappa index.

Results: Compared with MRI, for the diagnosis of normal uteri, 3D-US had a sensitivity of 83.3%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, NPV of 98.2% and kappa index of 0.900. For dysmorphic uteri and for hemi-uteri, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were all 100%, and kappa was 1.00. For septate uteri, the sensitivity was 100%, specificity was 88.9%, PPV was 95.5%, NPV was 100% and kappa was 0.918. For bicorporeal uteri, the sensitivity was 83.3%, specificity was 100%, PPV was 100%, NPV was 98.2% and kappa was 0.900.

Conclusions: 3D-US is highly accurate for diagnosing uterine malformations, having a good level of agreement with MRI in the classification of different anomaly types based on the ESHRE-ESGE consensus.

Keywords: 3D-US; Müllerian duct anomalies; congenital uterine anomalies; magnetic resonance imaging; three-dimensional ultrasonography; uterine abnormalities; uterine malformations.