MRI characteristics
Table 2 presents primary MRI characteristics of patients with and
without a histopathological diagnosis of adenomyosis. 21 patients were
not assessed on MRI due to a poor quality of the MRI, or the inability
of the researchers to identify the endometrium or the JZ (e.g. due to
disruption of the normal uterine anatomy in patients with severe uterine
fibroids). Furthermore, 52 MRIs were re-assessed and discussed with a
third investigator due to discrepancies between the two researchers.
Most discrepancies related to the presence of High Signal Intensity
(HSI) foci (n=31) and individual JZ measurements (including JZ Max)
(n=15) (see Table S2 for further details).
Significant differences between groups were found for mean JZ thickness,
maximal JZ thickness, and JZ differential (JZ Diff)
(p <.001, <.001, and .003, respectively).
Similar differences were observed for the cut-offs of JZ ≥12 mm, JZ Diff
≥5 mm, and JZ to myometrium ratio (JZ/MYO) >.4
(p= .004, .024, and .021, respectively). Compared to patients
without adenomyosis, the MRIs of patients with adenomyosis more often
showed HSI foci (39.7% vs. 8.9%, p <.001). Figure 1
shows illustrative examples of these MRI features in patients with and
without a histopathological diagnosis of adenomyosis.