Determining Uterine Origin of a Pelvic Mass on MRI
A practical radiology review of Determining Uterine Origin of a Pelvic Mass on MRI, focused on imaging findings, differential diagnosis, reporting points, and high-yield...
A practical radiology review of Determining Uterine Origin of a Pelvic Mass on MRI, focused on imaging findings, differential diagnosis, reporting points, and high-yield teaching pearls.
The central question
When a large pelvic mass distorts normal anatomy, the first task is to establish the organ of origin. MRI is particularly useful because it demonstrates the continuity of the mass with uterine tissue and its vascular attachments.
Claw sign
The claw sign is present when normal myometrium wraps around the margin of a mass, producing acute angles at the interface. This supports a uterine origin, especially for an exophytic leiomyoma.