Our latest case focuses on a 36-year-old female who underwent a WB-MRI screening without any significant?medical?history or known symptoms. The scan revealed uterine didelphys—a rare congenital condition involving two uteri—with a potential early pregnancy in one of the uteruses. The patient did?not expect to be pregnant and was unaware of her unique?anatomy, gaining crucial insights that will inform her next steps and allow for timely care.
- A 36-year-old female,?without any troublesome symptoms and without an expectation of being pregnant,?presents for a screening?whole body?MRI (WB-MRI).
- The patient was noted to have uterine didelphys (a rare condition present at birth in which two separate uteri develop, each with its own cervix and, in some cases, separate vaginal canals).
- This condition affects approximately 0.3% of women and can be associated with increased risk of reproductive challenges, including miscarriage, preterm labor, and complications related to limited uterine space.
- A suspected early pregnancy was noted with a gestational sac (cavity of fluid around an embryo) in one of two uteruses. The patient was unaware that she was pregnant at the time of the scan.
How the Prenuvo Scan Impacted Patient Care
- Most women with uterine didelphys are asymptomatic (as this patient was); however, some may experience painful menstruation, irregular cycles, or recurrent miscarriages.
- WB-MRI screening can reveal rare congenital abnormality (as in this patient’s case) in addition to providing an opportunistic and potentially unexpected yet clinically significant diagnosis, like an early and previously unknown pregnancy.
- Pregnancies in individuals with uterine didelphys often require high-risk management due to the increased likelihood of complications. Detection via WB-MRI allowed for early risk assessment and tailored prenatal care to mitigate potential complications.
- This case highlights the potential of WB-MRI as a comprehensive screening tool, capable of identifying both anatomical variations and unexpected physiological states.
- If a woman expects she is pregnant, she should not undergo a screening Prenuvo scan. However, a Prenuvo scan may reveal an unexpected early pregnancy, as occurred?in this rare case.
Such cases illustrate the profound impact proactive imaging can have on achieving better health outcomes.
Grimbizis GF, Camus M, Tarlatzis BC, Bontis JN, Devroey P. Clinical implications of uterine malformations and hysteroscopic treatment results. Hum Reprod Update. 2001;7:161–74. doi:10.1093/humupd/7.2.161.
