Uterine arteriovenous malformations: from diagnosis to treatment

The purpose of this study was to describe the sonographic features of uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and to describe the role and clinical outcome after transcatheter arterial embolization of symptomatic uterine AVMs.

In our institution, over a 4-year period, symptomatic uterine AVMs were diagnosed in 21 women. Endovaginal sonography with gray scale, color, and spectral Doppler imaging was performed on all patients. Fourteen patients required therapeutic angiography/embolization to control bleeding. These 14 patients had follow-up endovaginal sonography 24 hours after the procedure.

The sonographic gray scale findings of uterine AVMs were nonspecific. The most common finding was subtle myometrial heterogeneity (n = 14), whereas other patients had small anechoic spaces in the myometrium (n = 7). Color Doppler sonography showed a tangle of vessels with multidirectional high-velocity flow that produced a "color mosaic" pattern. Spectral Doppler analysis showed arteriovenous shunting with high-velocity, low-resistance flow. Fourteen patients required transcatheter arterial embolization to control bleeding. Thirteen of 14 patients had no sonographic evidence of a residual AVM 24 hours after the procedure. One of 14 patients had a residual AVM requiring additional embolization. One patient had recurrent bleeding at 4 months and required further embolization. The remaining 7 patients were treated conservatively.

Endovaginal sonography is the imaging modality of choice in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. Routine use of color and spectral Doppler sonography allows one to confidently make the correct diagnosis. Transcatheter arterial embolization is an excellent treatment option. Endovaginal sonography should be used to monitor postembolization outcomes.