Presentation and Management of Uterine Didelphys with Unilateral Cervicovaginal Agenesis/Dysgenesis (CVAD): A Multicenter Case Series

J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2024 Feb;37(1):72-77. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2023.08.001. Epub 2023 Aug 7.

Abstract

Introduction: There are several well-described presentations of uterine didelphys (UD): UD without vaginal septum, UD with non-obstructed longitudinal vaginal septum, or UD with duplicated vaginas and an obstructed hemivagina on one side with ipsilateral renal anomaly.

Study objective: To describe another variant of UD and compare the presentation and management across different institutions METHODS: This was a retrospective case series approved by the NASPAG Fellows Research Consortium. Participating institutions obtained IRB approval. Inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of UD and unilateral cervicovaginal agenesis/dysgenesis (CVAD). Descriptive statistics were used.

Results: Five patients met the inclusion criteria, with ages ranging from 13 to 27 years. Presenting symptoms included dysmenorrhea (80%), irregular bleeding (40%), acute onset left lower quadrant pain (20%), and abdominal mass (20%). Three patients had additional known abnormalities, including solitary kidney and solitary adrenal gland. All patients underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging. Two cases were only suspicious for unilateral CVAD on imaging and required pathology review postoperatively to confirm diagnosis. Two cases required a 2-staged approach with an initial diagnostic surgery followed by a second definitive procedure. Three patients were noted to have endometriosis intraoperatively. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 2 months to 2 years, with 1 patient reporting chronic pelvic pain.

Conclusion: Diagnosis on the basis of pelvic imaging can be difficult, as this unique variant may mimic classic obstructed hemivagina with ipsilateral renal anomaly. In patients with UD with unilateral CVAD, standard management is removal of the obstructed uterine horn. This multicenter series stresses awareness about the clinical presentation, distinguishes cases of cervical agenesis from dysgenesis, and reviews approaches to management.

Keywords: Cervical agenesis; Cervical dysgenesis; Müllerian anomaly; OHVIRA; Obstructed hemivagina with ipsilateral renal anomaly; Uterine didelphys; Uterus bicornis bicollis with partial vaginal septum and unilateral hematocolpos with ipsilateral renal agenesis.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney / abnormalities
  • Kidney Diseases*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Urogenital Abnormalities*
  • Uterine Didelphys*
  • Uterus / abnormalities
  • Uterus / surgery
  • Vagina / abnormalities
  • Vagina / surgery

Supplementary concepts

  • Uterine Anomalies