DEGENERATED UTERINE LEIOMYOMA MIMICKING ACUTE APPENDICITIS - SONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS

The present study reviews four cases in which degenerated uterine leio myomas mimicked appendicitis clinically. The correct diagnosis was mad e prospectively by sonography in each case. Appendicitis was excluded by graded compression sonography and an exophytic uterine leiomyoma wa s identified at the point of maximal symptoms. The leiomyomas demonstr ated central hypoechoic foci, but no detectable Doppler flow indicatin g necrosis. Although the phenomenon of a degenerated uterine leiomyoma mimicking appendicitis clinically is known, sonographic diagnosis has not been reported previously. The importance of making this diagnosis sonographically is that management of a degenerated leiomyoma is cons ervative and unnecessary surgery could be avoided. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.