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Ultraschall Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2254-7567
Case Report

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for evaluating partial uterine necrosis after uterine artery embolization

Kontrastverstärkte Ultraschalluntersuchung zur Beurteilung partieller Gebärmutternekrosen nach Embolisation der Gebärmutterarterien
Rong Hu 
1   Sichuan University and Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Educ, Department of Ultrasound, West China Second University Hospital, Chengdu, China
,
Tian Tian
1   Sichuan University and Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Educ, Department of Ultrasound, West China Second University Hospital, Chengdu, China
,
Yangmei Shen
2   Department of Pathology, Sichuan University West China Second University Hospital, Chengdu, China (Ringgold ID: RIN198150)
,
Jingxin Wang
1   Sichuan University and Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Educ, Department of Ultrasound, West China Second University Hospital, Chengdu, China
,
Fan Yang
1   Sichuan University and Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Educ, Department of Ultrasound, West China Second University Hospital, Chengdu, China
3   Chengdu Chenghua District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Chengdu, China
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Introduction

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a potentially fatal condition that requires immediate intervention. As an alternative to hysterectomy, uterine artery embolization (UAE) can effectively treat more than 90% of cases of PPH (Poujade, Ceccaldi et al. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2013;170:309–14).

In rare cases, UAE can lead to partial or total uterine necrosis. Its diagnosis typically requires enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A faster and less expensive alternative may be contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), which has already proven powerful at assessing perfusion in the uterus, liver, and kidney (Qingyun Song et al. Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy 2019;3:123–127). Here we describe two cases in which CEUS was able to diagnose uterine necrosis after UAE to treat PPH.



Publication History

Received: 19 April 2023

Accepted after revision: 26 January 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
26 January 2024

Article published online:
21 February 2024

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