Distal fallopian tube occlusion: false diagnosis with hysterosalpingography in cases of tubal diverticula.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the accuracy of hysterosalpingography (HSG) in the diagnosis of distal fallopian tube occlusion in infertile patients who were candidates for laparoscopic surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of charts was performed for 25 patients who were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic surgery. A preoperative diagnosis was made at HSG of bilateral (or unilateral in case of previous contralateral salpingectomy) distal tube occlusion.

RESULTS

At laparoscopy, in three patients (12%) who were scheduled for salpingostomy, the diagnosis of distal tube occlusion made at HSG was incorrectly positive; in the three patients, a single tubal diverticulum was present in the distal ampulla in otherwise normal, patent tubes.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral tubal diverticula appear to be often misdiagnosed at HSG as distal tube occlusion.