ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP), and to evaluate the diagnosis value of MRI in CSP. Methods The MRI data of 38 patients with clinically and pathologically confirmed CSP were retrospectively analyzed. These patients aged 19 to 50 years old, with one to two previous cesarean sections. The interval between this pregnancy and the last cesarean section was 2 to 11 years, the menopause time was 32 to 90 days, the urine human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) were all positive, and the blood β-HCG was 159.7-210 800.0 U/L. Twenty-nine cases were treated due to a small amount of vaginal bleeding after menopause, and nine cases due to abdominal pain. Results On the sagittal T2-weighted image, 38 cases of gestational sacs were clearly showed, of which 28 cases had round or oval morphology, with low signal on T1 and high signal on T2; 10 cases of gestational sacs showed irregular mixed cystic solidity with slightly low signal on T1 and slightly high signal on T2, and the contents were significantly strengthened after the enhancement. In all cases, the cyst wall was intact and located at the scar of the cesarean section of the anterior inferior wall of the uterus. In two cases of MRI grade 0, the gestational sac was located on the scar surface and grew into the uterine cavity without involving the myometrium; in 13 cases of grade 1, the gestational sac slightly invaded the myometrium, but mainly grew in the uterine cavity, with a clear boundary between the gestational sac and the myometrium; in 14 cases of grade 2, the gestational sac was small and completely implanted into the myometrium, the endometrial junction was continuously interrupted, the anterior-inferior wall of the uterus was thin, in the shape of “W” or “U”, without invading the serosa; in nine cases of grade 3, the gestational sac was large, completely implanted into the myometrium and protruded out of the uterine contour, compressing the bladder. Fifteen patients of MRI grade 0 and 1 were mainly treated with methotrexate, mifepristone or misoprostol, and/or ultrasound-guided curettage; 23 patients of grade 2 and 3 were mainly treated with curettage, excision of scar lesions and scar repair. Conclusion The typical MRI features of CSP can guide the clinical treatment decision-making, especially for the choice of operation mode.