What is a Uterine Fibroid Ultrasound and How Does It Work?

Accurately diagnosing uterine fibroids is the first step in choosing the right fibroid treatment option. A significant part of fibroid or adenomyosis diagnosis is the use of imaging techniques, such as uterine fibroid ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). But how does each technique work and which is best?

NYC Ob/Gyns at Viva Eve regularly see patients who describe menstrual cycle problems, such as heavy bleeding, painful cramps, fatigue due to chronic blood loss, and pain during sex. These symptoms can signify several conditions, such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine and cervical malignant disorders, among others.

The Uterine Fibroid Ultrasound

A pelvic ultrasound is almost always the first step after a pelvic exam in diagnosing uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of the uterus and can be paired with saline infusion sonography, a procedure that injects salt solution into the uterus to help form a clearer picture. It is important for your NYC Ob/Gyn conduct the uterine fibroid ultrasound to look at the uterus, because often even small fibroids that can’t be felt during a pelvic exam may cause serious symptoms. Uterine fibroid ultrasound confirms the presence of fibroids, their number, and their location within the uterus. 

Benefits & Risks

Although a uterine fibroid ultrasound provides an overall evaluation, it does have its limitations. A uterine fibroid ultrasound treatment can’t reliably differentiate between uterine fibroids and malignant tumors, or a condition called adenomyosis, which occurs when there’s abnormal growth of the uterine lining into the uterine wall and can present with symptoms that are similar to fibroid symptoms. Uterine fibroid ultrasound treatment is a critical first step in evaluating a patient who is experiencing fibroid or adenomyosis symptoms. If your NYC fibroid specialist at Viva Eve is considering a minimally invasive fibroid procedure or a surgery, he or she will almost certainly recommend an MRI that will provide more definitive information about the fibroid’s location and the number of fibroids. 

MRI combines magnetic field and radio waves and delivers a more detailed anatomic image than uterine fibroid ultrasounds and is the preferred method for diagnosing pelvic masses. MRI is a noninvasive imaging technique that will help your NYC fibroid specialist at Viva Eve plan treatment, whether it is a hormone treatment, a myomectomy, or a minimally invasive procedure like uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). MRI can provide your NYC fibroid specialist with the information to determine whether the fibroids seen on an uterine fibroid ultrasound are adenomyosis or any other more serious condition.

MRI complements fibroid ultrasound and provides crucial information for both diagnosis and monitoring fibroids after treatment, and both diagnostic techniques are often used together. It is not uncommon for a fibroid specialist that base their treatment recommendations on fibroid ultrasound alone to change their approach and treatment recommendation after reviewing MRI results. 

Interventional radiologists that are part of the Viva Eve’s integrated specialty practice will use MRI to get valuable information and to determine if a patient is a good candidate for UFE. Our interventional radiologists insist on having MRI imaging results at the time of consultation in order to provide the patient with all the necessary information prior to the UFE procedure. 

Even though other imaging techniques may be faster or less expensive, uterine fibroid ultrasound treatment in combination with pelvic MRI are preferred diagnostic tools when it comes to fibroids.

Your NYC fibroid specialist will answer every question you might have about the benefits of each test and together you will decide on the right course for your fibroid and adenomyosis diagnosis and treatment.

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