Ultrasonic patterns of uterine fibroids.

The classic appearance of the echo-poor fibroid uterus occurs in less than one-third of leiomyomata uteri. The ongoing manifestations of the various types of internal degeneration produce a picture of diffuse or focal medium-amplitude internal echoes with increased through transmission. Calcification of fibroids results in irregular high-amplitude echoes or a ringlike echo pattern which must not be mistaken for a fetal head. The combination of wide dynamic range, gray scale scanning, and high-resolution real-time sonography optimizes the diagnosis of the fibroid uterus.