{"paper_id":"e973f8a3-66a5-4dad-b91d-b9454df0e8a4","body_text":"Abstract\nThe purpose of this study was to establish normal values for the volume of the uterus and cervix in MRI based on age and the menstrual cycle phase. We performed MRI of the pelvis in 100 healthy women. For the uterus, they were further divided into two groups: one with myomas and/or adenomyosis and one without either. The volume of the uterus and cervix and thickness of the uterine wall layers were analysed by age and the menstrual cycle phase. The mean volume of the uterus in both groups and the cervix significantly increased with age to reach its peak at 41–50 years, and then dropped. Likewise, the thickness of the endometrium and the junctional zone, but not the myometrium, significantly increased until 41–50 years, and then decreased. When we compared the volume of the uterus and cervix and the thickness of the uterine wall layers between the two phases of the menstrual cycle, we found no significant differences. The volume of the uterus and cervix and the thickness of the endometrium and junctional zone differ significantly with age, but not between the two phases of the menstrual cycle. Knowledge of MRI-related normal values can be expected to aid the early identification of uterine pathologies.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nReferences\nNalaboff KM, Pellerito JS, Ben-Levi E (2001) Imaging the endometrium: disease and normal variants. Radiographics 21(6):1409–1424\nMitchell DG, Schonholz L, Hilpert PL, Pennell RG, Blum L, Rifkin MD (1990) Zones of the uterus: discrepancy between US and MR images. Radiology 174:827–831\nBrown HK, Stoll BS, Nicosia SV, Fiorica JV, Hambley PS, Clarke LP, Silbiger ML (1991) Uterine junctional zone: correlation between histologic findings and MR imaging. Radiology 179(2):409–413\nMcCarthy S, Tauber C, Gore J (1986) Female pelvic anatomy: MR assessment of variations during the menstrual cycle and with use of oral contraceptives. Radiology 160:119–123\nHaynor DR, Mack LA, Soules MR, Shuman WP, Montana MA, Moss AA (1986) Changing appearance of the normal uterus during the menstrual cycle: MR studies. Radiology 161(2):459–462\nTogashi K, Nakai A, Sugimura K (2001) Anatomy and physiology of the female pelvis: MR imaging revisited. J Magn Reson Imaging 13(6):842–849\nHoad CL, Raine-Fenning NJ, Fulford J, Campbell BK, Johnson IR, Gowland PA (2005) Uterine tissue development in healthy women during the normal menstrual cycle and investigations with magnetic resonance imaging. Am J Obstet Gynecol 192(2):648–654\nNaganawa S, Sato C, Kumada H, Ishigaki T, Miura S, Takizawa O (2005) Apparent diffusion coefficient in cervical cancer of the uterus: comparison with the normal uterine cervix. Eur Radiol 15(1):71–78\nHricak H, Tscholakoff D, Heinrichs L, Fisher MR, Dooms GC, Reinhold C, Jaffe RB (1986) Uterine leiomyomas: correlation of MR, histopathologic findings, and symptoms. Radiology 158(2):385–391\nMark AS, Hricak H, Heinrichs LW, Hendrickson MR, Winkler ML, Bachica JA, Stickler JE (1987) Adenomyosis and leiomyoma: differential diagnosis with MR imaging. Radiology 163(2):527–529, May\nReinhold C, Tafazoli F, Mehio A, Wang L, Atri M, Siegelman ES, Rohoman L (1999) Uterine adenomyosis: endovaginal US and MR imaging features with histopathologic correlation. Radiographics 147–160\nTogashi K, Nishimura K, Itoh K et al (1988) Adenomyosis: diagnosis with MR imaging. Radiology 166:111–114\nKido A, Togashi K, Koyama T, Yamaoka T, Fujiwara T, Fujii S (2003) Diffusely enlarged uterus: evaluation with MR imaging. Radiographics 23(6):1423–1439\nGrasel RP, Outwater EK, Siegelman ES, Capuzzi D, Parker L, Hussain SM (2000) Endometrial polyps: MR imaging features and distinction from endometrial carcinoma. Radiology 214(1):47–52\nIto K, Matsumoto T, Nakada T, Fujita N, Yamashita H (1994) Assessing myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma with dynamic MRI. J Comput Assist Tomogr 18(1):77–86\nSavci G, Ozyaman T, Tutar M, Bilgin T, Erol O, Tuncel E (1998) Assessment of depth of myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma: comparison of T2-weighted SE and contrast-enhanced dynamic GRE MR imaging. Eur Radiol 8(2):218–223\nOkamoto Y, Tanaka YO, Nishida M, Tsunoda H, Yoshikawa H, Itai Y (2003) MR imaging of the uterine cervix: imaging-pathologic correlation. Radiographics 23(2):425–445\ndeSouza NM, Hawley IC, Schwieso JE, Gilderdale DJ, Soutter WP (1994) The uterine cervix on in vitro and in vivo MR images: a study of zonal anatomy and vascularity using an enveloping cervical coil. AJR Am J Roentgenol 163(3):607–612\nTogashi K, Noma S, Ozasa H (1987) CT and MR demonstration of nabothian cysts mimicking a cystic adnexal mass. J Comput Assist Tomogr 11:1091–1092\nMittl RL, Yeh I-T, Kressel HY (1991) High-signal-intensity rim surrounding uterine leiomyomas on MR images: pathologic correlation. Radiology 180:81–83\nLevine D, Gosink BB, Johnson LA, Johnson LA (1995) Change in endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women undergoing hormone replacement therapy. Radiology 197(3):603–608\nTsuda H, Kawabata M, Kawabata K, Yamamoto K, Umesaki N (1997) Improvement of diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound for identification of endometrial malignancies by using cutoff level of endometrial thickness based on length of time since menopause. Gynecol Oncol 64(1):35–37\nZalud I, Conway C, Schulman H, Trinca D (1993) Endometrial and myometrial thickness and uterine blood flow in postmenopausal women: the influence of hormonal replacement therapy and age. J Ultrasound Med 12(12):737–741\nDemas BE, Hricak H, Jaffe RB (1986) Uterine MR imaging: effects of hormonal stimulation. Radiology 159(1):123–126\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nCorresponding author\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nHauth, E.A.M., Jaeger, H.J., Libera, H. et al. MR imaging of the uterus and cervix in healthy women: Determination of normal values. Eur Radiol 17, 734–742 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-006-0313-3\nReceived:\nRevised:\nAccepted:\nPublished:\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-006-0313-3","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}