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Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study

INTRODUCTION: A multifactorial etiology has been implicated in the development and maintenance of vestibulodynia (VBD), and atrophic changes of the vestibular mucosa have been observed in many patients. AIM: To assess the vestibular mucosa thickness in patients with VBD by comparing this sample with...

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Autores principales: Murina, Filippo, Barbieri, Sara, Lubrano, Chiara, Cetin, Irene
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Elsevier 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8072142/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33588370
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100320
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author Murina, Filippo
Barbieri, Sara
Lubrano, Chiara
Cetin, Irene
author_facet Murina, Filippo
Barbieri, Sara
Lubrano, Chiara
Cetin, Irene
author_sort Murina, Filippo
collection PubMed
description INTRODUCTION: A multifactorial etiology has been implicated in the development and maintenance of vestibulodynia (VBD), and atrophic changes of the vestibular mucosa have been observed in many patients. AIM: To assess the vestibular mucosa thickness in patients with VBD by comparing this sample with a control group of healthy fertile women and postmenopausal patients with symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). METHODS: Vestibular mucosa thickness was measured with a 20 MHz ultrasound probe (DermaScan C, Cortex Technology, Denmark), including both the epidermis and dermis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All women were evaluated by anamnesis, physical examination, and self-report symptoms. Thickness of the vestibular mucosa (expressed in micrometers) was determined by the B-mode, excluding the hyperechogenic entrance echo and hypoechogenic subcutis. Clinical data related to VBD and GSM were recorded using a 0- to 10-point visual analog scale related to dyspareunia and vulvar pain/burning (0 = no pain; 10 = worst possible pain). RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were recruited: 24 with VBD, 20 with GSM-related symptoms, and 20 matched controls. Vestibular mucosa thickness measurements were not significantly different between the VBD (mean ± DS: 1,092.5 ± 226.1 μm) and GSM groups (1,059.7 ± 221.5 μm), while the parameter was significantly lower (P < .01) than the control group (1,310.6 ± 250.0 μm). Correlation analysis in the VBD and GSM groups between low vestibular mucosa thickness and symptom intensity (burning/pain and dyspareunia) showed a significant correlation. CONCLUSION: Patients with VBD have a vestibular mucosa with a lower thickness than healthy women of the same age, with an almost identical value to that found in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, a low vestibular mucosa thickness in the VBD and GSM groups showed a significant correlation with burning/pain intensity and dyspareunia severity. F Murina, S Barbieri, C Lubrano, MD, et al. Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study. Sex Med 2021;9:100320.
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spelling pubmed-80721422021-04-29 Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study Murina, Filippo Barbieri, Sara Lubrano, Chiara Cetin, Irene Sex Med Original Research INTRODUCTION: A multifactorial etiology has been implicated in the development and maintenance of vestibulodynia (VBD), and atrophic changes of the vestibular mucosa have been observed in many patients. AIM: To assess the vestibular mucosa thickness in patients with VBD by comparing this sample with a control group of healthy fertile women and postmenopausal patients with symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). METHODS: Vestibular mucosa thickness was measured with a 20 MHz ultrasound probe (DermaScan C, Cortex Technology, Denmark), including both the epidermis and dermis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All women were evaluated by anamnesis, physical examination, and self-report symptoms. Thickness of the vestibular mucosa (expressed in micrometers) was determined by the B-mode, excluding the hyperechogenic entrance echo and hypoechogenic subcutis. Clinical data related to VBD and GSM were recorded using a 0- to 10-point visual analog scale related to dyspareunia and vulvar pain/burning (0 = no pain; 10 = worst possible pain). RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were recruited: 24 with VBD, 20 with GSM-related symptoms, and 20 matched controls. Vestibular mucosa thickness measurements were not significantly different between the VBD (mean ± DS: 1,092.5 ± 226.1 μm) and GSM groups (1,059.7 ± 221.5 μm), while the parameter was significantly lower (P < .01) than the control group (1,310.6 ± 250.0 μm). Correlation analysis in the VBD and GSM groups between low vestibular mucosa thickness and symptom intensity (burning/pain and dyspareunia) showed a significant correlation. CONCLUSION: Patients with VBD have a vestibular mucosa with a lower thickness than healthy women of the same age, with an almost identical value to that found in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, a low vestibular mucosa thickness in the VBD and GSM groups showed a significant correlation with burning/pain intensity and dyspareunia severity. F Murina, S Barbieri, C Lubrano, MD, et al. Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study. Sex Med 2021;9:100320. Elsevier 2021-02-13 /pmc/articles/PMC8072142/ /pubmed/33588370 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100320 Text en © 2021 The Authors https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
spellingShingle Original Research
Murina, Filippo
Barbieri, Sara
Lubrano, Chiara
Cetin, Irene
Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study
title Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study
title_full Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study
title_fullStr Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study
title_full_unstemmed Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study
title_short Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study
title_sort vestibular mucosa thickness measured by ultrasound in patients affected by vestibulodynia: a case-control study
topic Original Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8072142/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33588370
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100320
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