Junctional zone of the uterus
Junctional zone is a region representing the inner myometrium and is a very important imaging feature in pelvic MR imaging for interpretation of various pathologies. In its intact state, it is usually visualized on MRI as a low T2 signal layer beneath the endometrium. At times, it can also be seen on ultrasound as a slightly more hypoechogenic layer between the endometrium and deeper myometrium.
This low signal intensity is thought to be from closely packed compact smooth muscle cells with little extracellular matrix and water content.
Disruption or alteration of the junctional zone with various pathological conditions.
- uterine adenomyosis: makes the junctional zone thicker and hazy
- a junctional zone of <8 mm is considered unlikely to represent adenomyosis
- a junctional zone of >12 mm very likely represents adenomyosis
- as a feature of myometrial invasion with endometrial carcinoma
- as a feature of myometrial invasion by an invasive mole in the spectrum of gestational trophoblastic disease
- uterine lymphoma is not thought to disrupt the junctional zone
Some research also emphasizes the use of the junctional zone as a predictor for implantation failure after in vitro fertilisation .
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Assoziationen und Differentialdiagnosen zu junctional zone:
