Abstract:
Background: Hysterosalpingography (HSG) assesses
tubal status during infertility investigation. The scout film
standardizes the film qualities and detects calcified areas
in the pelvis. Unfortunately the film is often skipped
during HSG. This study determined the pattern of
abnormalities detected in scout films and assessed the
value of the film in HSG.
Methods: The hysterosalpingographic scout films of
infertile women performed over ten years at the Jos
University Teaching Hospital in central Nigeria were
analysed in a retrospective study.
Results: The ages of the women ranged from 15 to 44
years with a preponderance of those aged between 25 and
29 years , number (n=419) and 44 (4.4% ) were teenage
girls. Of the 998 women whose scout films were
analysed, 389 (39.0%) women had primary infertility, and
609 (61.0%) had secondary infertility. Majority of the
women, (n=974, 97.6%) the scout films were normal,
Abstract
while for 24 (2.4%) women the scout films had various
abnormalities [pelvic calcifications (n = 8; 33.3%);
evidence of previous pelvic bone fracture and bladder
calcification (n = 4; 16.7%) each; urolithiasis (n = 2;
8.3%); IUCD (n = 3; 12.5%); and full bladder (n = 1,
4.2%)].
Conclusion: Non-osseous lesions were the main findings
on the scout radiograph of infertile women in Jos,
Nigeria. Albeit the overall small number of abnormal
findings (n=24, 2.4%), the apparent relationship of some
of the findings with female infertility and the ease of
missing such lesions without the scout film justifies the
film at HSG studies.
