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Color Flow Imaging of Leiomyomas and Focal Myometrial Contractions During Pregnancy

Ultrasound Department, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington; Department of Diagnostic Ultrasounrd, Seattle University, Broadway & Madison, Seattle, WA 98122

In a prospective study, 15 pregnant patients with a total of 7 leiomyomas and 10 focal myometrial contractions were evaluated with color flow imaging. Images were graded based on vascularity. Leiomyomas were grade III (hypervascular) in 85.7% and grade II (peripheral flow only) in 14.3% of cases. Contractions were grade I (hypovascular) in 80% and grade II in 20% of cases. Contractions involving the placenta demonstrated vascularity adjacent to the myometrium at the placentation site. Color flow imaging is useful when used in conjunction with two-dimensional findings to differentiate between leiomyomas and focal myometrial contractions during pregnancy.

Key Words: leiomyomas • myometrial contractions • color flow imaging • ultrasound

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