Management of uterine adenomyosis: current trends and uterine artery embolization as a potential alternative to hysterectomy

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This review discusses current trends in adenomyosis management, highlighting uterine artery embolization as a potentially effective, uterine-sparing alternative to hysterectomy.

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This educational review examines current diagnostic and management trends in uterine adenomyosis, focusing on how noninvasive ultrasound and MRI approaches are used to evaluate disease features and guide treatment decisions. It reports that ultrasound and MRI show moderate-to-high pooled diagnostic performance but highlights explicit limitations including lack of pathognomonic symptoms, operator/reader dependence (especially for MRI), variability across studies, and the diffuse nature of adenomyosis that complicates standardization, while it notes that hysterectomy remains definitive largely because of limited evidence for other approaches. The review describes multiple uterine-sparing options, with uterine artery embolization (UAE) discussed as an emerging, minimally invasive alternative to hysterectomy, citing promising early results and ongoing randomized trial activity (QUESTA) that is expected to clarify validation, including the role of fertility preservation. Relevance to endometriosis: it states that symptoms and clinical features of adenomyosis overlap with endometriosis and that coexisting endometriosis can confound diagnosis, though the paper’s main focus is management and uterine artery embolization for adenomyosis.

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Abstract

Adenomyosis is a challenging clinical condition that is commonly being diagnosed in women of reproductive age. To date, many aspects of the disease have not been fully understood, making management increasingly difficult. Over time, minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment methods have developed as more women desire uterine preservation for future fertility or to avoid major surgery. Several uterine-sparing treatment options are now available, including medication, hysteroscopic resection or ablation, conservative surgical methods, and high-intensity focused ultrasound each with its own risks and benefits. Uterine artery embolization is an established treatment option for uterine fibroids and has recently gained ground as a safe and cost-effective method for treatment of uterine adenomyosis with promising results. In this review, we discuss current trends in the management of uterine adenomyosis with a special focus on uterine artery embolization as an alternative to hysterectomy.
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Abstract

Adenomyosis is a challenging clinical condition that is commonly being diagnosed in women of reproductive age. To date, many aspects of the disease have not been fully understood, making management increasingly difficult. Over time, minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment methods have developed as more women desire uterine preservation for future fertility or to avoid major surgery. Several uterine-sparing treatment options are now available, including medication, hysteroscopic resection or ablation, conservative surgical methods, and high- intensity focused ultrasound each with its own risks and benefits. Uterine artery embolization is an established treatment option for uterine fibroids and has recently gained ground as a safe and cost-effective method for treatment of uterine adenomyosis with promising results. In this review, we discuss current trends in the management of uterine adenomyosis with a special focus on uterine artery embolization as an alternative to hysterectomy.

Keywords

Adenomyosis, Uterine artery embolization, Hysterectomy Key points /C15Uterine artery embolization (UAE) seems to be the most promising uterine-sparing, minimally invasive treatment option for adenomyosis. /C15Results of ongoing randomized controlled trial (QUESTA) will soon show whether UAE can be validated as a treatment option for adenomyosis. /C15Ability to preserve fertility will be one of the main factors determining whether UAE can replace hysterectomy in treatment of adenomyosis, but further randomized controlled trials are needed.

Introduction

Adenomyosis is defined by the abnormal location of endometrial tissue within the myometrium associated with hypertrophy or hyperplasia of the myometrial stroma [ 1, 2]. Although pathogenesis and etiology of adenomyosis remain unknown, two main theories have been proposed: invagination of the endometrial basal layer and metaplasia of embryonic stem cells [ 3]. Preva- lence of adenomyosis varies widely from 5 to 70% [ 4–7] with recent studies showing about 20% prevalence [ 8– 10] among which the majority were premenopausal. Despite the absence of specific (pathognomonic) diag- nostic features for uterine adenomyosis, typical symp- toms include menorrhagia, chronic pelvic pain, and dysmenorrhea [ 11]. These symptoms are commonly en- countered in other gynecological disorders including leiomyomas and endometriosis, often confounding the clinical diagnosis [ 12]. For more than a century, diagnosis was dependent on histopathologic examination of post-hysterectomy speci- mens till the introduction of noninvasive ultrasound and MR techniques [ 13]. Since then, several studies have il- lustrated high sensitivities and specificities for both two-dimensional transvaginal sonography (TVS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [ 13–17]. Current © The Author(s). 2019 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. * Correspondence: [email protected] 1Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Koliat Al Tob Street, Zagazig 44519, Egypt Full list of author information is available at the end of the article Insights into ImagingDessouky et al. Insights into Imaging (2019) 10:48 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-019-0732-8 treatment options for symptomatic adenomyosis include hysterectomy, medication, conservative surgery, or min- imally invasive techniques including uterine artery embolization [ 18]. To date, hysterectomy remains the definitive treatment. This is mainly due to difficult diag- nosis, the diffuse nature of the disease, and little evidence-based literature needed to standardize treat- ments [ 19]. This consequently results in a management dilemma, particularly in symptomatic patients who wish to preserve their uterus [ 18]. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) was first described in 1995 by Ravina et al. [ 20] then later established as an effective treatment option for patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids [ 21, 22]. Since then, UAE has been in- vestigated as a noninvasive treatment option for adeno- myosis with initial promising results [ 23, 24]. What remains to be known is whether UAE can be validated as a safer, noninvasive, uterine-sparing alternative to hysterectomy. This article summarizes current trends in management of uterine adenomyosis with special focus on the emerging role of UAE. Etiology The precise etiology and pathophysiology leading to the development of adenomyosis remains undetermined. Several theories have been introduced, including trau- matic, immunological, hormonal, metaplastic, and stem cell [ 25]. Traumatic and immunological theories suggest disruption of endometrial-myometrial interface with in- vagination of eutopic (normally located) endometrial cells [ 26, 27], while hormonal, metaplastic, and stem cell theories rely on the altered behavior of atopic (displaced) cells [ 28–30]. These mechanisms, in addition to various risk factors, such as age, parity, previous uterine surgery, smoking, ectopic pregnancy, antidepressant, and tamoxi- fen therapies, are believed to contribute to the develop- ment of adenomyosis [ 19]. Regardless of etiology, histopathologic features remain the same, and definitive diagnosis is established by the presence of “ectopic, non-neoplastic, endometrial glands and stroma sur- rounded by hypertrophic and hyperplastic myometrium ” on hysterectomy specimens [ 1]. Diagnosis Adenomyosis remains an underdiagnosed condition. This is largely due to lack of pathognomonic symptoms related to this condition [ 31]. Symptomatic patients varyingly present with menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and subfertility [ 32– 34], and up to 30% of patients are asymptomatic [ 34]. Furthermore, confounding coexisting pathologies (usu- ally fibroids and endometriosis) add to the difficulty of diagnosis, as both entities present with similar clinical features [ 31]. Role of ultrasound and MRI in diagnosis With the introduction and advancement of ultrasound and MR techniques, various criteria have been utilized in the noninvasive narrowing of the clinical differen- tial [ 15, 35, 36], determining the depth of myometrial invasion and monitoring treatment response [ 37]. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) represents a cost-effective initial screening modality for adenomyosis. Ultrasound fea- tures of adenomyosis can be divided into direct or indirect features (Fig. 1). Direct features are due to the presence of endometrial tissue within the myometrium, and indirect features are due to a hypertr ophied myometrium as de- scribed by Atri et al. [ 38]. T able1 describes ultrasound fea- tures of adenomyosis as described in previous literature [14, 16, 38–43]. To report the diagnostic accuracy of TVS in adenomyosis, several meta-analyses have been published [17, 44–46]. Estimated pooled sensitivities of 72 to 82%, pooled specificities of 81 to 85%, and pooled positive likeli- hood ratios 3.7 to 4.67 have been reported [ 17, 44]; how- ever, one meta-analysis suggested that variability between studies does not allow for accurate statistical pooling [ 45]. With the introduction of col or and power Doppler ultra- sound, three-dimensional TVS and elastography techniques to the work-up of adenomyosis, there is promise for further improvement in diagnostic accuracy [46]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents a second line, detailed imagin g modality for the detec- tion of adenomyosis (Fig. 2). Similar to ultrasound, various direct and indirect features can be used to describe adenomyosis, but need more knowledge of uterine anatomy and its cyclic variations [ 36]. Table 1 describes MRI features of adenomyosis as described in previous literature [ 14–16, 35, 47]. Few prospective studies have evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in the diagnosis of adenomyosis [ 15, 16, 48]. These studies have reported sen sitivity between 70 and 93% and specificities between 86 and 93%. Despite being less operator dependent, MRI needs more reader ex- perience and optimization of imaging technique to achieve higher diagnostic accuracy [ 36]. Classification of adenomyosis The use of complex imaging techniques has revealed various subtypes of adenomyosis, often associated with histopathologic variation in glandular and muscular components [ 31]. Furthermore, initial studies have linked various imaging criteria to symptoms of adeno- myosis [ 49–51]. Therefore, the need for a more holistic approach to identify various disease characteristics incorp- orating symptomatology, morphology, and pathologic fea- tures is rising in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy and adequately guide treatment decisions. Important fac- tors to be included in classification systems would be the site and location of pathology, configuration, and size/ Dessouky et al. Insights into Imaging (2019) 10:48 Page 2 of 9 volume relative to the total myometrial thickness [ 31]. Most recent ultrasound and MR classification and report- ing systems have been developed by Van den Bosch et al. [52] and Bazot [ 36, 53] respectively, but the clinical rele- vance remains to be tested. Treatment As with many aspects of adenomyosis, treatment re- mains controversial. Important factors to be considered and discussed with patients are age, symptom severity, desire for future conception, and associated comorbidi- ties [ 32, 54, 55]. Recent studies estimate a prevalence of adenomyosis among females younger than 40 years to be about 20–30%, while in the rest of the patients, diagnosis is usually established in the fourth or fifth decade [ 55–57]. Furthermore, diffuse adenomyosis, depth of invasion, and coexisting fibroids and/or endometriosis are associated with increased frequency/severity of symptoms and repro- ductive complications [ 31, 49, 58–60]. Currently, treat- ment is on a case by case basis, and hysterectomy remains the definitive treatment in patients who are willing and do not wish for future fertility. With the introduction of assisted reproductive techniques, delayed age of concep- tion, and availability of minimally invasive treatment op- tions, the shift from hysterectomy as the “go to ” option seems inevitable. Medical treatment Medical treatment is the first-line treatment option for adenomyosis aiming to relieve symptoms and maintain fertility with the least possible side effect. This is achieved by disrupting pathways leading to Fig. 1 Direct and indirect imaging features of adenomyosis on ultrasound. a Small posterior wall myometrial cysts (open arrows). b Poorly defined endo-myometrial interface (solid arrow). c Diffuse myometrial heterogeneity with hyperechoic linear striations (three arrows). d Diffuse asymmetric widening of the posterior myometrial wall with hyperechoic nodules (four arrows) Table 1 Direct and indirect imaging features of adenomyosis Imaging feature Ultrasound description MR description Direct features Tiny myometrial cysts Tiny myometrial cysts Hyperechoic nodules or striations Myometrial foci of high signal intensity on T1- weighted imagesPoor definition of the endometrial-myometrial interface Indirect features Diffuse myometrial heterogeneity associated thin hypoechoic linear striations within a heterogeneous myometrium Junctional zone thickening Abnormal myometrial signal intensity Diffuse asymmetric or symmetric widening of the myometrial walls Large, regular, asymmetric uterus without leiomyomas Dessouky et al. Insights into Imaging (2019) 10:48 Page 3 of 9 inflammation, neuroangiogenesis, and impaired apoptosis [61]. Currently, several hormonal and non-hormonal op- tions, namely gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, progestins, combined oral contraceptives, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are being used in an “off label ” manner for the symptomatic treatment of adenomyosis [57, 62]. Also, newer drugs, such as aroma- tase inhibitors, have been investigated by Badawy et al. and Tosti et al. [ 63, 64], while other therapies such as se- lective progesterone receptor modulators, GnRH antago- nists, valproic acid, and anti-platelet therapies are still under investigation [55]. The main advantage of medication is symptomatic re- lief without the need for surgical treatment. Neverthe- less, many drawbacks still need to be addressed. This includes the temporary relieve of symptoms, and the common (i.e., menopausal symptoms, irregular bleeding, amenorrhea) and occasionally severe (i.e., thrombo- embolic) side effects of some drugs. Lack of evidence needed to base choice of drugs also raises the need to perform research into the comparative efficacy of cur- rently used drugs and develop a more standardized ap- proach for patients wanting to conceive while using medication. With a better understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms of adenomyosis, advances in drug develop- ment will soon be possible [ 55]. Minimally invasive techniques These are second-line treatment options aiming to cure symptoms and preserve the uterus in patients with failed medical therapy. Conservative surgical treatments aim to remove adenomyosis and preserve the remaining normal uterine muscles through laparotomy, laparoscopy, hys- teroscopy, or combined approach. Excisional adenomyo- mectomy involves the complete removal of focal lesions (adenomyomas), while myometrectomy is the surgical debulking of diffuse adenomyosis. Non-excisional treat- ments aim to induce necrosis of focal or diffuse adenomyosis through selective vascular occlusion or fo- cused ultrasound/thermal energy without direct tissue dissection. In some cases, a combination of surgical and non-excisional methods, i.e., hysteroscopic resection/ab- lation, are used to achieve maximum cytoreduction and reduce myometrial tissue damage. Conservative surgical treatment Debulking/cytoreductive surgeries aim to remove visibly diseased tissue with repair of the remaining myometrial tissue [ 65]. Several laparotomic techniques have been described, including wedge resection and its modifica- tions, transverse H-shaped incision [ 66], wedge-shaped uterine wall removal [ 67], double and triple flap [ 68, 69], and asymmetric dissection methods [ 70]. Laparoscopic techniques have also been described in more focal path- ology, where longitudinal or transverse incisions [ 71, 72] are used to access adenomyotic lesions followed by re- section using monopolar needle or laser knife [ 73, 74], bag removal, and repair in layers or using double flaps [72, 75]. To date, there is no consensus on the best sur- gical method, but initial results are promising. In a sys- tematic review by Grigoris et al., dysmenorrhea reduction, menorrhagia control, and pregnancy success rates ranged from 81 to 82%, 50 to 69%, and 47 to 61% among partial versus complete adenomyosis excisions respectively [ 76], and a recent review by Younes et al. showed 75% symptom relief on short-term follow-ups [77]. The main issue with conservative surgical methods is the high risk for complications, i.e., uterine rupture and complicated pregnancy [ 54, 65] (especially in diffuse lesions and on long-term follow-up), making this option safer in focal adenomyomas. Hysteroscopic resection/ablation Hysteroscopic resection/ablation is a combined treatment

Method

involving the dissection and or coagulation of cys- tic adenomyotic lesions and crypts [ 78–82]. Hysteroscopic Fig. 2 Coronal (a) and sagittal ( b) T2W 1.5-T pelvic MRI images of a 42-year-old female with persistent pelvic pain following cesarean section show focal thickening of the posterior uterine wall transitional zone (asterisk) with tiny myometrial cyst (solid arrow head), suggesting focal adenomyosis Dessouky et al. Insights into Imaging (2019) 10:48 Page 4 of 9 resections can be performed using yttrium aluminum gar- net (YAG) laser, rollerball resection, thermal balloon abla- tion, cryoablation, circulated hot fluid ablation, microwave ablation, bipolar radiofrequency ablation, and electro- coagulation [19]. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is the use of intense ultrasound energy directly targeting abnormal tissues and their vascularity through heating and cavita- tion, sparing the normal surrounding tissues. This process can be guided and monitored through MRI or ultrasound [ 83]. High-intensity focused ultrasound has been used since 2008 for the treatment of adenomyosis [84]. Since then, literature has shown promising results regarding symptom relief and uterine preservation with few reported complications (namely pain, numbness, va- ginal or urinary discharge, fever, skin burn, or contact dermatitis) [ 83]. Recent studies have also investigated the use of ultrasound contrast agents (microbubbles) and hormonal (GnRH) and non-hormonal (metformin) treatments to enhance the efficacy of HIFU. Microbub- bles are believed to improve the ablative effects of HIFU by changing the acoustic characteristics, thus increasing energy deposition in target tissues, while GnRH and metformin inhibit cellular proliferation and induce apop- tosis [ 85–87]. Limited literature on treatment outcomes for HIFU in adenomyosis has shown highly variable re- sults regarding symptom and uterine volume reduction [88–97]. Rates of menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, and uter- ine volume reduction varied widely from 12.4 to 44.8%, 25 to 100%, and 12.7 to 54% respectively, increasing gradually overtime (from 1 to 24 months). Nevertheless, paucity of literature comparing HIFU to other minimally invasive treatment options, limited availability, overall cost, unknown fertility outcomes, and strict indications, including lesions no more than 10 cm in diameter [ 88, 90], no pelvic adhesions [ 84, 89, 90, 93], body weight less than 100 kg [ 98], and abdominal wall thickness less than 5c m [ 93] may limit its widespread use. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) Uterine artery embolization is the use of transarterial catheters aiming to induce more than 34% necrosis within adenomyotic tissues [ 99, 100]. The technique for UAE in adenomyosis is similar to that used in fi- broids. In many parts of the world, UAE is performed under conscious sedation. Vascular access is gained t h r o u g haf e m o r a lo rr a d i a la r t e r yp u n c t u r eu s i n g4– 6-French (F) arterial sheath for femoral [ 99, 101]a n d 4-F sheath for radial access [ 102]. Under fluoroscopic guidance, aortography is followed by selective and super selective arteriography using 4 –5-F catheters for the internal iliac and 2 –3-F microcatheters for the uterine artery and its branches respectively. Embolization is usually performed using variable-sized permanent particulate agents [ 103, 104]. Special atten- tion is paid to visualization of the cervicovaginal and ovarian artery branches (Fig. 3). Distal embolization avoids vaginal necrosis and unwanted reflux of micro- spheres into the ovarian artery [ 105]. Despite being established in fibroids as a cost-effective, short recovery alternative to surgery with minimal com- plications [ 19, 23, 100], it was believed to have lower ef- ficacy in adenomyosis [ 106]. In the past 15 years, UAE has been considerably studied for the treatment of symptomatic adenomyosis [ 107]. Earlier studies by Popovic, Keung, and Zhou et al. demonstrate long-term improvement in patient symptoms (in over 60% of pa- tients) and a short-term decrease in uterine volumes (in over 20% of patients), especially in vascular lesions [ 23, 107, 108]. Current literature by Dueholm and Bruijn et al. show up to 67% long-term (40 month) treatment suc- cess and up to and 72% patient satisfaction rates respect- ively [ 24, 100]. In the latest systematic review and meta-analysis by de Bruijn et al., patients were divided into four groups to report short- and long-term out- comes. Short-term improvement was achieved in 89.6% of patients with pure adenomyosis and 94.3% of patients with adenomyosis with fibroids, while long-term im- provement was achieved in 74.0% of patients with pure adenomyosis and 84.5% of patients with adenomyosis with fibroids [ 109]. Overall, UAE shows favorable clinical outcomes, but ran- domized controlled trials are still lacking [ 110]. In an at- tempt to fill this gap in knowledge, the “Quality of Life after Embolization vs Hysterectomy in Adenomyosis” (QUESTA) trial was set up. This multicenter non-blinded randomized controlled trial is currently ongoing in the Netherlands. It has started since November 2015, and its primary outcomes are expected by May 2020 [101]. The calculated sample size for this trial was 96 patients (divided into 52 embolization and 34 hysterectomy, including a 10% expected drop-out) made on assumptions from the embolization versus hyster- ectomy (EMMY) trial outcomes [111]. Inclusion criteria were premenopausal women with symptomati c pure adenomyosis or dominant adeno- myosis when both adenomyosis and fibroids coexist and women with an indication for hysterectomy (ei- ther failed or refused medical treatment). Exclusion criteria were patients under 18 years of age, pelvic in- fection, suspected or confirmed malignancy, current or future desire to conceive, any absolute contraindi- cation to angiography, deep infiltrating endometriosis requiring surgery or obstructing the bowel, or coexist- ing hysteroscopically removable submucous fibroids. Following selection, TVUS and MRIs were performed to confirm the adenomyosis and eligible patients are Dessouky et al. Insights into Imaging (2019) 10:48 Page 5 of 9 informed of the trial. Patients with written informed consents were randomly allocated (in a 2:1 ratio) be- tween both experimental intervention (UAE) and standard care control groups (hysterectomy), while patients refusing randomization are given the stand- ard of care (hysterectomy) [ 101]. Following the procedure (UAE or hysterectomy), pa- tients are followed up immediately, then at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months using an online questionnaire system. Three outcome parameters were measured. Primary outcomes (quality of life) were measured at 6, 12, and 24 months using a combination of World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale and Short Form-12 Questionnaires. Secondary outcomes (clinical, symptom and quality of life, recovery related, cost utility analysis, laboratory, and pathology outcomes) were measured at 6 weeks and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Imaging outcomes were also determined to identify po- tential predictive parameters for therapy effect using specific TVUS criteria (uterine size/fibroid volume re- duction in case of associated fibroids, vascular index by 3D power Doppler) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months and MRI criteria (uterine size/fibroid volume reduction in case of associated fibroids, junctional zone reduction, infarction rate, and presence of endometriosis) at base- line and at 6 months postprocedure [ 101]. UAE as an alternative to hysterectomy To date, UAE seems to be the most investigated and highest potential minimally invasive treatment option for adenomyosis. Results of ongoing randomized con- trolled (QUESTA) trial will soon show whether UAE can be validated as a treatment option for adenomyosis. Al- though comparative information regarding quality of life, patient satisfaction, side effects, and complications post UAE versus hysterectomy will soon be available, ques- tions regarding fertility post UAE remain to be an- swered. Current American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Society of Interventional Radiology guidelines still consider desire for future fertility a rela- tive contraindication to UAE, but conflicting reports re- garding effects of UAE on fertility [ 112] still give room for debate. Nevertheless, further randomized studies are still needed to give a clear answer for physicians and pa- tients alike. In conclusion, lack of information is the main hur- dle to overcome the complexity in management of adenomyosis. With randomized controlled trials and Fig. 3 Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images (of the same patient in Fig. 2) with selective injections of the left ( a)u t e r i n ea r t e r y demonstrate with multiple tortuous uterine artery branches and ( b) lesion blush (most prominent at the anatomic site of the posterior uterine wall). Right uterine artery injection (not shown) was unremarkable for pathology. Post-embolization DSA images show occlusion of toursous feeding vessels ( c) with absence of lesion blush ( d) Dessouky et al. Insights into Imaging (2019) 10:48 Page 6 of 9 more evidence-based research, optimal treatment pro- tocols can be developed according to patient needs. Whether or not UAE can replace hysterectomy will largely depend on the results of ongoing QUESTA trial and other randomized trials comparing fertility outcomes among minimally invasive therapies. Abbreviations EMMY: Embolization versus hysterectomy; GnRH: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone; HIFU: High-intensity focused ultrasound; QUESTA: Quality of Life after Embolization vs Hysterectomy in Adenomyosis; UAE: Uterine artery embolization; YAG: Yttrium aluminum garnet

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Prof. Adel Gamil for providing ultrasound images for this manuscript. Funding No funding was received for this work. Availability of data and materials Not applicable. Authors’ contributions RD contributed to the manuscript preparation and revision. SAG and MGN contributed to the manuscript editing and revision, image collection, editing, and preparation. RM and YL contributed to the preparation of the manuscript draft and editing and revision of final manuscript. All authors significantly contributed to the preparation of this manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Ethics approval and consent to participate Not applicable. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Publisher’sN o t e Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Author details 1Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Koliat Al Tob Street, Zagazig 44519, Egypt. 2Radiology Department, Al-Ahrar Teaching Hospital, Zagazig, Egypt. Received: 15 December 2018 Accepted: 14 March 2019

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Results

a systematic review. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 25:265 –276 https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2017.07.014 78. Giana M, Montella F, Surico D, Vigone A, Bozzola C, Ruspa G (2005) Large intramyometrial cystic adenomyosis: a hysteroscopic approach with bipolar resectoscope: case report. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol 26:462 –463 79. Ryo E, Takeshita S, Shiba M, Ayabe T (2006) Radiofrequency ablation for cystic adenomyosis: a case report. J Reprod Med 51:427 –430 80. Kamio M, Taguchi S, Oki T et al (2007) Isolated adenomyotic cyst associated with severe dysmenorrhea. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 33:388 –391 https://doi. org/10.1111/j.1447-0756.2007.00543.x 81. Takeuchi H, Kitade M, Kikuchi I, Kumakiri J, Kuroda K, Jinushi M (2010) Diagnosis, laparoscopic management, and histopathologic findings of juvenile cystic adenomyoma: a review of nine cases. Fertil Steril 94:862 –868 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.05.010 82. Sun W, Guo X, Zhu L, Fei X, Zhang Z, Li D (2018) Hysteroscopic treatment of a uterine cystic adenom yosis. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 25:374 –375 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2017.07.015 83. Cheung VYT (2017) Current status of high-intensity focused ultrasound for the management of uterine adenomyosis. Ultrasonography 36:95 –102 https://doi.org/10.14366/usg.16040 84. Fukunishi H, Funaki K, Sawada K, Yamaguchi K, Maeda T, Kaji Y (2008) Early

Results

of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery of adenomyosis: analysis of 20 cases. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 15:571 –579 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2008.06.010 85. Jingqi W, Lu Z, Jun Z et al (2018) Clinical usefulness of the microbubble contrast agent SonoVue in enhancing the effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of adenomyosis. J Ultrasound Med https://doi. org/10.1002/jum.14638 86. Xiao-Ying Z, Ying-Shu G, Jiu-Mei C et al (2018) Effect of pre-treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue GnRH- α on high-intensity focussed ultrasound ablation for diffuse adenomyosis: a preliminary study. Int J Hyperth:1 –9 https://doi.org/10.1080/02656736.2018.1440014 87. Hou Y, Qin Z, Fan K, Xu Y, Huang X (2018) Combination therapeutic effects of high intensity focused ultrasound and metformin for the treatment of adenomyosis. Exp Ther Med 15:2104 –2108 https://doi.org/ 10.3892/etm.2017.5601 88. 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J Vasc Interv Radiol 24:925 –930 https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.jvir.2013.03.014 Dessouky et al. Insights into Imaging (2019) 10:48 Page 9 of 9

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