Tissue characterization of uterine myometrium using the ultrasound gray-level histogram width.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the usefulness of the gray-level histogram width for tissue characterization of the uterine myometrium.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients with uterine fibroids, 5 patients with adenomyosis, and 9 patients with extensive myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma were studied. The gray-level histogram width was determined by transvaginal ultrasonography. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for use in tissue characterization.

RESULTS

Significant differences in the gray-level histogram width were found between normal myometrium (54.2% ± 4.2%) and carcinoma (58.2% ± 3.9%), normal myometrium and fibroid (64.3% ± 5.2%), and carcinoma and fibroid. However, it was difficult to identify adenomyosis. The cutoff values to distinguish normal myometrium from carcinoma, normal myometrium from fibroid, and carcinoma from fibroid are 56, 58, and 64, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The gray-level histogram width is useful for tissue characterization of the uterine myometrium.