Radiology, Vol 180, 433-435, Copyright © 1991 by Radiological Society of North America
Uterine changes after dilation and curettage: MR imaging findings
SM Ascher, LM Scoutt, SM McCarthy, RC Lange and AH DeCherney
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06504.
To determine what, if any, changes occur in the appearance of the uterus on
magnetic resonance (MR) images after dilation and curettage (D&C), nine
women without endometrial abnormality underwent imaging before D&C and
on day 2 and day 7 after D&C. On day 2, markedly hypointense
curvilinear areas in the endometrial canal were noted on MR images in all
patients (P = .0002). By day 7, these areas decreased in size in five (62%)
and completely resolved in the rest (P = .022). There was no significant
change in the width of the endometrial stripe or in the width or signal
intensity of the junctional zone or myometrium after D&C. The
junctional zone was focally disrupted in one patient who underwent D&C
that was complicated by a uterine perforation. Therefore, curvilinear areas
of low signal intensity (most likely representing clot) in the endometrial
canal were visualized on MR images within 2 days of uncomplicated D&C
and decreased in size or resolved over time. Significant widening of the
endometrial stripe or disruption of the junctional zone was not observed
after uncomplicated D&C.
