Assessment of cystitis glandularis by transvaginal sonography in women.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this retrospective study were to determine the accuracy of transvaginal sonography for diagnosing cystitis glandularis in women and to describe the sonographic features of cystitis glandularis masses in confirmed cases.

METHODS

For 90 patients with clinically or sonographically suspected cystitis glandularis, we retrospectively reviewed the imaging files. Twenty-one cases were confirmed by histopathologic examination. All patients had undergone transvaginal sonography to evaluate bladder masses in a standardized manner no more than 1 week before histopathologic examination. Findings from preoperative transvaginal sonography of the masses were described and compared with histopathologic findings.

RESULTS

Cystitis glandularis masses were correctly identified on transvaginal sonography in 15 of 21 cases (71.4%), whereas 6 of 21 (28.6%) had negative preoperative sonographic findings. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of transvaginal sonography for diagnosing cystitis glandularis were 71.4% (15 of 21), 92.8% (64 of 69), 75.0% (15 of 20), and 91.4% (64 of 70), respectively, and the total accuracy was 87.8% (79 of 90).

CONCLUSIONS

Detection of cystitis glandularis masses by transvaginal sonography depends on the mucosal surface roughness, bladder wall thickness, outer bladder wall continuity, mixed echoes, sparse vessels, and mobility of the cervix. Transvaginal sonography is a promising modality for identifying cystitis glandularis masses.