Arcuate uterus

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Arcuate uterus
Synonyms	Uterus arcuatus
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Often asymptomatic, but may include recurrent miscarriage
Complications	Infertility, miscarriage
Onset	Congenital
Duration	Lifelong
Types	N/A
Causes	Müllerian duct anomaly
Risks	Pregnancy complications
Diagnosis	Ultrasound, MRI
Differential diagnosis	Septate uterus, Bicornuate uterus
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Usually none required, surgical intervention if symptomatic
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Generally good
Frequency	Common
Deaths	N/A

A type of uterine anomaly

Arcuate Uterus

An arcuate uterus is a type of congenital uterine anomaly characterized by a slight indentation at the top of the uterine cavity. It is considered a mild form of a septate uterus, where the indentation is not as pronounced as in other uterine anomalies. The arcuate uterus is the most common type of uterine anomaly and is often asymptomatic.

Arcuate uterus MRI axial view

Anatomy and Classification

The arcuate uterus is classified as a Class VI anomaly according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) classification system. It is characterized by a broad, smooth indentation at the fundus of the uterus, which is less than 1 cm deep. Unlike a bicornuate uterus, the external contour of the uterus is normal, and the indentation does not extend into the endometrial cavity.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of an arcuate uterus is typically made using imaging techniques such as ultrasound, hysterosalpingography, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is particularly useful for distinguishing between different types of uterine anomalies. The arcuate uterus is often identified incidentally during evaluations for other conditions.

Pelvic MRI showing arcuate uterus

Clinical Significance

The arcuate uterus is generally considered to have minimal impact on fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Most women with an arcuate uterus have normal reproductive outcomes, although some studies suggest a slight increase in the risk of miscarriage or preterm birth. However, these risks are significantly lower compared to other uterine anomalies such as the septate or bicornuate uterus.

Management

In most cases, no treatment is necessary for an arcuate uterus, as it does not typically cause symptoms or complications. If reproductive issues are present, they are often addressed with standard fertility treatments rather than surgical correction of the uterine anomaly.

Comparison of results from Gorlin, Agarwal-Okpara-Bao, and clinical data

See also

• Uterine anomaly
• Septate uterus
• Bicornuate uterus
• M√ºllerian duct anomalies