Magnetic resonance imaging in müllerian fusion defects

MRI may replace laparoscopy in the workup of many women with uterine anomalies because of its ability to optimally distinguish the shape of the fundal contour (differentiating septate and bicornuate uteri) as well as to delineate uterine, cervical and vaginal components. Other anomalies, such as unicornuate uterus and uterus didelphis, concealed hemorrhage within noncommunicating horns, müllerian or cervical agenesis, and vaginal septa, are also well defined by MRI. For patients with uterine or vaginal septa, MRI can set the stage for a definitive diagnosis and more informed preoperative patient preparation. Moreover, since many of the other conditions are not amenable to surgery, MRI can mean the avoidance of otherwise purely diagnostic surgery.