open access

Vol 94, No 11 (2023)
Research paper
Published online: 2023-07-10
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Accessory cavitated uterine mass (ACUM) as a miniature uterine anomaly causing severe lateralized dysmenorrhea: case series

Weronika Zajaczkowska1, Karina Kapczuk21
·
Pubmed: 37435918
·
Ginekol Pol 2023;94(11):907-912.
Affiliations
  1. Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Hospital of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  2. Division of Gynecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

open access

Vol 94, No 11 (2023)
ORIGINAL PAPERS Gynecology
Published online: 2023-07-10

Abstract

Objectives: Our study aimed to retrospectively analyse and present the clinical course of accessory cavitated uterine mass (ACUM), a rarely diagnosed uterine malformation.

Material and methods: The study group comprised 5 adolescents and young adult women that were treated in the Division of Gynecology, Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, between October 2017 and August 2022. Patients’ age at diagnosis of ACUM ranged from 14.1 to 27.5 (mean 21.4) years. All patients complained of severe dysmenorrhea with significant lateralisation of the pain.

Results: Pelvic ultrasound (US) followed by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the presence of a small cystic lesion surrounded by a ring of myometrium within or in connection with the regular uterine body. In four patients (80%), the lesion was on the right side, and in one patient (20%) on the left side. The volume of the ACUM cavity ranged from 0.04 to 2.4 (mean 0.8) cm3. Laparoscopic excision of ACUM, located near the uterine attachment of the round ligament, was performed in all five cases and resulted in the complete resolution of symptoms. None of the patients was diagnosed with adenomyosis or pelvic endometriosis.

Conclusions: ACUM is a small, surgically correctable cause of severe dysmenorrhea in young females with an otherwise normal uterus. The lateralisation of the menstrual pain should prompt the search for this malformation with imaging techniques (US, MRI). ACUM laparoscopic excision results in complete relief of symptoms. ACUM is not associated with pelvic endometriosis.

Abstract

Objectives: Our study aimed to retrospectively analyse and present the clinical course of accessory cavitated uterine mass (ACUM), a rarely diagnosed uterine malformation.

Material and methods: The study group comprised 5 adolescents and young adult women that were treated in the Division of Gynecology, Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, between October 2017 and August 2022. Patients’ age at diagnosis of ACUM ranged from 14.1 to 27.5 (mean 21.4) years. All patients complained of severe dysmenorrhea with significant lateralisation of the pain.

Results: Pelvic ultrasound (US) followed by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the presence of a small cystic lesion surrounded by a ring of myometrium within or in connection with the regular uterine body. In four patients (80%), the lesion was on the right side, and in one patient (20%) on the left side. The volume of the ACUM cavity ranged from 0.04 to 2.4 (mean 0.8) cm3. Laparoscopic excision of ACUM, located near the uterine attachment of the round ligament, was performed in all five cases and resulted in the complete resolution of symptoms. None of the patients was diagnosed with adenomyosis or pelvic endometriosis.

Conclusions: ACUM is a small, surgically correctable cause of severe dysmenorrhea in young females with an otherwise normal uterus. The lateralisation of the menstrual pain should prompt the search for this malformation with imaging techniques (US, MRI). ACUM laparoscopic excision results in complete relief of symptoms. ACUM is not associated with pelvic endometriosis.

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Keywords

accessory cavitated uterine mass; accessory cavitated uterine malformation; ACUM; dysmenorrhea

About this article
Title

Accessory cavitated uterine mass (ACUM) as a miniature uterine anomaly causing severe lateralized dysmenorrhea: case series

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 94, No 11 (2023)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

907-912

Published online

2023-07-10

Page views

648

Article views/downloads

691

DOI

10.5603/GP.a2023.0060

Pubmed

37435918

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2023;94(11):907-912.

Keywords

accessory cavitated uterine mass
accessory cavitated uterine malformation
ACUM
dysmenorrhea

Authors

Weronika Zajaczkowska
Karina Kapczuk

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