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Published 13 August 2009
Cite this as: BMJ Case Reports 2009 [doi:10.1136/bcr.05.2009.1860]
Copyright © 2009 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Reminder of important clinical lesson

Vaginal rupture caused by transvaginal ultrasonography in follow-up for ovarian cancer

Lene Lundvall1, Flemming Jensen2, Henrik Roed3, Christian Ottosen1, Caroline Ewertsen2, Birthe Merete Henriksen2

1 Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Department of Gynaecology, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen OE, DK-2100, Denmark
2 Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Department of Radiology, Section of Ultrasound, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen OE, DK-2100, Denmark
3 Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Department of Radiation Oncology, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen OE, DK-2100, Denmark

Correspondence to:
Caroline Ewertsen, caroline.ewertsen{at}dadlnet.dk

SUMMARY

Vaginal rupture is a rare complication of hysterectomy. It is, among others, related to age and the incidence is higher in postmenopausal women. The rupture can occur spontaneously or in relation to clinical follow-up. In ovarian cancer the follow-up after surgery includes clinical examination, cancer antigen (CA)-125, and transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasonography. We experienced vaginal rupture in three patients with ovarian cancer. All patients had undergone surgery for ovarian cancer and were receiving chemotherapy. The rupture occurred shortly after transvaginal ultrasonography, performed by separate radiologists specialised in ultrasonography. All patients had acute surgery without any complications. Caution should be taken when performing transvaginal ultrasonography in hysterectomised patients and the complication of vaginal rupture should always be borne in mind.


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