Vaginal bromocriptine for treatment of adenomyosis: Impact on magnetic resonance imaging and transvaginal ultrasound

Andersson JK, Johanna Andersson, Johanna K Andersson, Raffaella Pozzi Mucelli, Epstein E, E. Epstein, Elisabeth Epstein, Stewart EA, Elizabeth A. Stewart, Kristina Gemzell‐Danielsson, Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson, Gemzell-Danielsson K
European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology · 2020 · vol. 254 , pp. 38–43 · doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.08.040 · PMID:32920421 · W3080821421
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This study investigated the effects of vaginal bromocriptine treatment on adenomyosis as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and transvaginal ultrasound.

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Abstract

ObjectiveVaginal bromocriptine significantly reduces heavy menstrual bleeding and pain in women with diffuse adenomyosis. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether imaging findings of adenomyosis, as assessed by transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflect changes induced by the bromocriptine treatment.Study designEighteen women, aged 35-50, with heavy menstrual bleeding reporting Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBLAC) scores >100 and diffuse adenomyosis according to both MRI and TVU were included. The subjects underwent treatment with vaginal bromocriptine for 6 months. MRI and TVU were performed at baseline and after 6 months of medication.ResultsMean age of the participants was 44.8 years, 77.8 % reported PBLAC scores > 250 and 66.7 % reported moderate to severe pain during menstruation at baseline. As compared to baseline, TVU revealed a thinner maximal Junctional Zone (JZmax) (8.5 mm [5.2-14] vs 7.9 mm [5-11.2], p = 0.02) at 6 months. Asymmetric wall thickening was seen in 13 (72 %) at baseline, and in 6 (33 %) women at 6 months, p = 0.02. No significant changes were seen in irregular endometrial-myometrial border, presence of fan-shaped shadowing, cystic changes, striations, hyperechogenic islands or lesion extension. MRI showed no significant difference in JZmax (16.0 mm[12.1-27.7] vs 15.5 mm [9.5-25.8], p = 0.81), JZdifference (9.5 mm[4.8-21.6] vs 8.4[3.8-19.5], p = 1) or Ratio JZ/myometrium (0.6 [0.5-0.8] vs. 0.6[0.4-0.8], p = 0.9) at baseline vs 6 month. Cystic lesions in the JZ were found in 9 women (50 %) before, and in 5 women (28 %) at 6 months, p = 0.13.ConclusionTVU showed a significant decrease in JZ max and a reduced number of women with asymmetric myometrial wall thickness. The changes seen in this small pilot study may indicate that vaginal bromocriptine have an impact on adenomyosis that is reflected in radiological appearance.

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Condition tags

adenomyosis

MeSH descriptors

Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Bromocriptine Bromocriptine Adult Female Humans Magnetic Resonance Imaging Middle Aged Pilot Projects Ultrasonography

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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