Ultrasonographic quantification of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle using computer-assisted analysis

OBJECTIVE: Sonographic gray-scale histogram is used to assess the endometrial changes in the different phases of the menstrual cycle. The objective was to examine the usefulness of a gray-scale histogram and computer-assisted image analysis software in assessing normal physiologic states of the endometrium with sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients, who visited the Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital and matched the eligibility criteria, were categorized into one of three groups: (1) menstrual phase; (2) follicular phase; and (3) luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Ultrasonography of the uterus was performed on each patient and the endometrium was analyzed with ImageJ image analysis software. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in signal intensity scores of the gray-level histogram, represented as m(j), was found among the three groups. CONCLUSION: Sonographic images analyzed by using computer-assisted image analysis software and gray-level histogram are proven to be useful in assessing the physiological state of the endometrium.