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MR hysterosalpingography in a rabbit model
Author(s) -
Lee Fred T.,
Grist Thomas M.,
Nelson Kathleen G.,
Chosy Susan G.,
Rappe Alan H.,
Shapiro Sander S.,
Kelcz Frederick
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.1880060208
Subject(s) - hysterosalpingography , medicine , radiology , iohexol , endometriosis , uterine horns , fallopian tube , nuclear medicine , uterus , infertility , gynecology , pregnancy , renal function , genetics , biology
Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of MR imaging as compared with conventional hysterosalpingography (HSG) for the detection of fallopian tube patency after uterine injection of contrast material. Rabbit uterine horns ( n = 18) were catheterized transvaginally. Five fallopian tubes were ligated and 11 were left unaltered. T1‐weighted gradient‐echo MR images were obtained before, during, and after injection of 1.0–3.0 mL of a dilute gadolinium‐containing contrast agent. Corresponding conventional studies were performed with an equivalent volume of iohexol. Images were evaluated by two blinded readers. Observers agreed in all cases on the presence ( n = 11) or absence ( n = 5) of peritoneal spill with conventional HSG. Interpretation of MR HSG concurred with conventional HSG in 14 of 16 cases for each observer ( P > .05). Reasons for misdiagnosis included small amounts of spill ( n = 2), artifact ( n = 1), and subtle spill between bowel loops ( n = 1). Sensitivity and specificity for MR HSG were 95.5% and 70%, respectively, for the diagnosis of tubal patency/occlusions. No statistical difference was found between MR HSG and conventional HSG for the diagnosis of fallopian tube patency/obstruction. Potential advantages of MR HSG include no ionizing radiation, potentially diminished local contrast toxicity, superior visualization of uterine fibroids and endometriosis, and visualization of ovaries. We conclude that this technique warrants further study, including the use of a primate model to better simulate human anatomy.