Purpose: To prospectively compare conventional spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and transvaginal sonography for the diagnosis of adenomyosis.
Materials and methods: Twenty women with clinically suspected adenomyosis underwent MR imaging and transvaginal sonography performed within 3 months of each other. Pathologic proof was obtained in all cases.
Results: Seventeen patients were proved to have adenomyosis. The correct diagnosis was achieved with MR imaging in 15 of 17 cases. One false-positive and two false-negative diagnoses were made with MR imaging. With transvaginal sonography, nine of 17 cases of adenomyosis were correctly diagnosed. One false-positive and eight false-negative diagnoses occurred. The most frequent cause of false-negative diagnoses with transvaginal sonography was the misinterpretation of adenomyosis as leiomyomas (seven cases).
Conclusion: MR imaging is significantly better (P < .02) than transvaginal sonography in the diagnosis of adenomyosis.