THE ROLE OF ULTRASOUND IN DIAGNOSING UTERINE FIBROIDS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66021/pakmcr1358Keywords:
Uterine fibroids; Leiomyoma; Ultrasound; Doppler ultrasound; Three-dimensional ultrasound; Magnetic resonance imaging; Systematic review.Abstract
Background: Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive system and a major cause of gynecological morbidity. Ultrasound is the preferred first-line imaging modality because of its accessibility, safety, and diagnostic accuracy. This systematic review evaluated the role of ultrasound in diagnosing uterine fibroids.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies published between January 2000 and June 2026. Eligible studies assessing the diagnostic performance of ultrasound were included and qualitatively synthesized.
Results: Forty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Conventional transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for detecting uterine fibroids. Doppler and three-dimensional ultrasound improved lesion characterization and vascular assessment, while artificial intelligence-assisted ultrasound enhanced diagnostic performance. MRI remained valuable for complex cases but was not recommended as the initial imaging modality.
Conclusion: Ultrasound remains the cornerstone imaging technique for diagnosing uterine fibroids owing to its high diagnostic accuracy, safety, wide availability, and cost-effectiveness. Advanced ultrasound techniques further enhance its clinical utility.
