A Novel Ultrasound Technique Called Saline Infusion SonoPODography to Visualize and Understand the Pouch of Douglas and Posterior Compartment Contents: A Feasibility Study

Mathew Leonardi; Mercedes Espada; Chuan Lü; N. Stamatopoulos; G. Condous

doi:10.1002/jum.15022

A Novel Ultrasound Technique Called Saline Infusion SonoPODography to Visualize and Understand the Pouch of Douglas and Posterior Compartment Contents: A Feasibility Study

Mathew Leonardi, Mercedes Espada, Chuan Lü, N. Stamatopoulos, G. Condous

Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine · 2019 · vol. 38(12) , pp. 3301–3309 · doi:10.1002/jum.15022 · PMID:31090229 · W2946644200

article OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 14 in-corpus citations

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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

A novel saline-infusion sonoPODography technique utilizing fluid from routine gynecologic ultrasound to visualize the pouch of Douglas and posterior compartment structures was found to be feasible and improve evaluation of this area.

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Abstract

Women with infertility are often investigated with saline-infusion sonohysterography and hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography. The high prevalence of endometriosis in this population also warrants an evaluation with transvaginal ultrasound for deep endometriosis. To minimize investigations, we prospectively evaluated the feasibility of a novel combined ultrasound technique called saline-infusion sonoPODography. In most patients, the fluid infused to assess the cavity and tubal patency spilled through patent tubes and filled the pouch of Douglas, yielding a "standoff" view of posterior compartment structures, including uterosacral ligaments, rectovaginal septum, and the pouch of Douglas. We believe this improved our ability to evaluate this space.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Douglas' Pouch Endometriosis Infertility, Female Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological Douglas' Pouch Endometriosis Feasibility Studies Female Humans Image Enhancement Image Enhancement Infertility, Female Infusions, Parenteral Prospective Studies Saline Solution Saline Solution Ultrasonography Ultrasonography

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References (24)

Cited by (14)

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