Ask An Expert: Spot on Uterus

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Ask An Expert: Spot on Uterus

Question:

I just had an ultrasound and was told a spot is appearing on my uterus. What could this indicate?

Answer:

Ultrasound is a very helpful tool for evaluating the pelvic organs. It is a safe technique for creating images of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries. While it can show abnormalities of these structures, ultrasound alone is not always precise enough to allow the radiologist to make a specific diagnosis.

The uterus has two components that are evaluated by ultrasound. The endometrium is the glandular tissue that lines the uterine cavity. The endometrium grows in response to hormones and sheds as the monthly menstrual flow. The myometrium comprises the rest of the uterine wall and is a thick layer of muscle.

Various conditions may make either the endometrium or myometrium appear abnormally thick or irregular on an ultrasound. The most common endometrial abnormality is a polyp, and the most common myometrial irregularity is a fibroid.

When ultrasound shows a uterine abnormality, your physician will use this information in the context of other clinical information to determine a diagnosis. A patient's age, symptoms, and results of a clinical examination are all important in this process.

Joan Bengtson, M.D., is assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproduction at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007