Visualising uterine microcirculation using contrast-enhanced ultrasound for differentiating between healthy controls and participants with adenomyosis: rationale and design of the UteroVue Adenomyosis study.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- 2Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- 3Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- 4Department of Radiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- 5Biomedical Diagnostics, Signal Processing Systems, Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Abstract
Background
Adenomyosis is a benign uterine condition characterised by ectopic growth of endometrial tissue within the myometrium. It is associated with dysmenorrhea, heavy menstrual bleeding and subfertility. Diagnosing adenomyosis remains challenging, due to its typically diffuse distribution. A potential distinguishing feature is abnormal uterine microcirculation, which can be visualised using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). In our recent pilot study on the feasibility of uterine CEUS in ten participants, CEUS showed promise for diagnosing adenomyosis. The current clinical trial aims to explore if qualitative CEUS characteristics and quantitative CEUS perfusion parameters describing the uterine microcirculation can be used to differentiate between healthy controls and participants with (moderate to severe) adenomyosis.Methods
In this explorative prospective cross-sectional study, healthy controls and participants with adenomyosis are recruited. They undergo conventional ultrasound and two-dimensional and three-dimensional CEUS. The primary outcomes are quantitative CEUS perfusion parameters. Secondary outcomes are qualitative CEUS characteristics and the relationship between CEUS findings and findings on conventional ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathology.Discussion
This is the first large study to apply extensive CEUS analysis in participants with adenomyosis and compare the results with those of a healthy control group. This study will provide insights into the microcirculation of adenomyosis, which may lay the groundwork for improving diagnostics of adenomyosis.
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BibTeX
@article{bock2026visualising,
title = {{Visualising uterine microcirculation using contrast-enhanced ultrasound for differentiating between healthy controls and participants with adenomyosis: rationale and design of the UteroVue Adenomyosis study.}},
author = {Eva J E de Bock and Nicole B Burger and Naem Donner and Jan Hein T M van Waesberghe and Ferenc I Kandi and Catarina Dinis Fernandes and Massimo Mischi and Judith A F Huirne and Lynda J M Juffermans},
journal = {European journal of obstetrics \& gynecology and reproductive biology: X},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.eurox.2026.100501},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927128},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Visualising uterine microcirculation using contrast-enhanced ultrasound for differentiating between healthy controls and participants with adenomyosis: rationale and design of the UteroVue Adenomyosis study.
AU - Eva J E de Bock
AU - Nicole B Burger
AU - Naem Donner
AU - Jan Hein T M van Waesberghe
AU - Ferenc I Kandi
AU - Catarina Dinis Fernandes
AU - Massimo Mischi
AU - Judith A F Huirne
AU - Lynda J M Juffermans
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology: X
DO - 10.1016/j.eurox.2026.100501
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927128
AB - Background Adenomyosis is a benign uterine condition characterised by ectopic growth of endometrial tissue within the myometrium. It is associated with dysmenorrhea, heavy menstrual bleeding and subfertility. Diagnosing adenomyosis remains challenging, due to its typically diffuse distribution. A potential distinguishing feature is abnormal uterine microcirculation, which can be visualised using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). In our recent pilot study on the feasibility of uterine CEUS in ten participants, CEUS showed promise for diagnosing adenomyosis. The current clinical trial aims to explore if qualitative CEUS characteristics and quantitative CEUS perfusion parameters describing the uterine microcirculation can be used to differentiate between healthy controls and participants with (moderate to severe) adenomyosis.Methods In this explorative prospective cross-sectional study, healthy controls and participants with adenomyosis are recruited. They undergo conventional ultrasound and two-dimensional and three-dimensional CEUS. The primary outcomes are quantitative CEUS perfusion parameters. Secondary outcomes are qualitative CEUS characteristics and the relationship between CEUS findings and findings on conventional ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathology.Discussion This is the first large study to apply extensive CEUS analysis in participants with adenomyosis and compare the results with those of a healthy control group. This study will provide insights into the microcirculation of adenomyosis, which may lay the groundwork for improving diagnostics of adenomyosis.
SN - 2590-1613
ER -