Myometrial tissue in uterine septa.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the frequency of myometrial tissue in the septa of septate uteri.

DESIGN

Retrospective review (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

University-affiliated tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

Twenty-nine consecutive women with uterine septa diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

INTERVENTIONS

The MRI examination was performed with a 1.5 Tesla scanner using high-resolution phased array coils with multiplanar fast-spin echo and T1-weighted sequences. Of resected septa, tissue was available in four for histologic evaluation for the presence of myometrial tissue.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

In 17 women MRI showed a partial septum, all containing myometrium. The 12 patients with complete septum had evidence of myometrium in the upper part of the septum, with fibrous tissue constituting the lower part. Histology reviewed from four resected septa (2 partial, 2 complete) reported myometrial tissue.

CONCLUSION

Uterine septa are frequently composed of myometrial tissue.