MRI diagnosis of adenomyosis

Objective:To investigate the value of MRI in the diagnosis of adenomyosis.Methods:MRI findings of 28 cases with surgically and histologically proved adenomyosis were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Definite diagnosis was made in 28 cases by preoperative MR.All findings of these cases showed enlargement of the uterine body in different degrees,more obviously in the posterior walls.10 cases were diffuse adenomyosis:they appeared as iso-intensity on T1WI,2 of them with punctate hyperintensity.On T2WI these 10 cases showed slight hypointensity,6 of 10 cases showed punctate or patchy hyperintensity.On sagittal view of T2WI the uterine junction zone was thickened with a mean thickness of 17mm.18 cases were localized adenomyosis:irregular or round shape lesions were shown in the muscular layer,diameter between 2.1 and 8.5cm with a mean of 3.7cm,and boundaries of the lesions and the surrounded muscular tissues were unclear.The lesions showed iso-intensity on T1WI,and there was as spunctate hyperintensity in 9 cases of them.They appeared as slightly hypointensity on T2WI,13 of them appeared as internal interspersed punctate,patchy hyperintensity.DWI was performed in 20 cases,and 18 of them showed interspersed punctate,patchy hyperintensity,which was more and clearer than the lesions shown by T2W.Conclusion:MRI is an non-invasive method in the diagnosis of adenomyosis.Adenomyosis has its own specific manifestations on MRI,and MRI is helpful in making the diagnosis of adenomyosis with rational sequences.