The arcuate uterus is a form of a uterine anomaly or variation where the
septate uterus
is not standardized.
Signs and symptoms
The condition may not be known to the affected individual and not result in any reproductive problems; thus normal pregnancies occur.
recurrent pregnancy loss.[2] Accordingly, the condition may be a variation or a pathology.[citation needed
]
One view maintains that the condition is associated with a higher risk for
obstetrical complications as a risk for affected women.[4] Woelfer found that the miscarriage risk is more pronounced in the second trimester.[5] In contrast, a study utilizing 3-D ultrasonography to document the prevalence of the arcuate uterus in a gynecological population found no evidence of increased risk of reproductive loss; in this study 3.1% of women had an arcuate uterus making it the most common uterine anomaly; this prevalence was similar than in women undergoing sterilization and lower than in women with recurrent pregnancy loss.[6]
Cause
The uterus is formed during
Müllerian ducts. During this fusion a resorption process eliminates the partition between the two ducts to create a single cavity. This process begins caudally and advances cranially, thus an arcuate uterus represents an incomplete absorption process in the final stage.[citation needed
A transvaginal ultrasound can reveal the condition.
Helpful techniques to investigate the uterine structure are
MRI, and hysteroscopy. More recently 3-D ultrasonography has been advocated as an excellent non-invasive method to delineate the condition.[5]
Differential diagnosis
The major differential diagnosis is the uterine septum. The lack of agreement to separate these two entities makes it difficult to assess the results in the literature.[citation needed]
Management
Many patients with an arcuate uterus will not experience any reproductive problems and do not require any surgery. In patients with recurrent pregnancy loss thought to be caused by an arcuate uterus hysteroscopic resection can be performed.[citation needed]
