A 35-year-old female underwent a transabdominal pelvic ultrasound examination. The image below shows a mid-longitudinal view of the uterus.
What structure is the arrow pointing to?
- Retained products of conception
- Blood clot
- Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD)
Images courtesy of UltrasoundCases.info, owned by SonoSkills.
Explanation
The image shows a linear hyperechoic structure in the uterine cavity. The finding is consistent with a properly placed intrauterine contraceptive device. Please see the references for a detailed explanation.
Figure 1. Transverse view through the uterus shows a bright/hyperechoic structure inside the uterine cavity. Ultrasound is commonly used to locate the position of IUCD.
Figure 2. IUCD inside uterine cavity
References