Incarceration of the retroverted uterus is a rare complication of pregnancy and rarely
persists until term. The diagnosis is extremely difficult to make and a cesarean section
should be performed in such cases. A 33-year-old Japanese woman was admitted at 40
weeks gestation for evaluation of preeclampsia. Vaginal examination revealed that
the uterine cervix could hardly be visualized, although the fetal head was impacted
in the pelvis. These findings suggested incarceration of the retroverted uterus. Magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) was performed and clarified the exact anatomical relationship
and confirmed the diagnosis. She therefore underwent a cesarean section and a male
infant weighing 3552 g was delivered with Apgar scores of 9 and 10 at 1 and 5 minutes,
respectively. At surgery she was found to have an adhesion between the uterus and
the pouch of Douglas. MRI is a useful tool in correctly making the diagnosis of uterine
incarceration and facilitates preparation for a cesarean section.
Keywords
Uterine incarceration - magnetic resonance imaging - pregnancy complication
