Importance of Doppler ultrasound in vaginal foreign body: case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Journal of ultrasound Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 409 - 412
• Main Authors: Saidman, Julia Mariel, Bertoni, Victoria, Demeco, Cristian Miguel, Padilla, Maria Laura, Ormaechea, Maria Nieves, Chacon, Carolina Rosa Beatriz, Kreindel, Tamara Glenda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-06-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bleeding; Case Report; Case reports; Child; Discharge; Etiology; Female; Foreign bodies; Foreign Bodies - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Literature reviews; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pediatrics; Thickening; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography - adverse effects; Ultrasound; Uterine Hemorrhage - complications; Uterine Hemorrhage - etiology; Vagina; Vagina - diagnostic imaging; Vaginal Diseases - etiology; Vagina; Foreign body; Vaginal bleeding; Vaginal discharge; Doppler ultrasound
• ISSN: 1876-7931; 1971-3495; 1876-7931
• DOI: 10.1007/s40477-021-00596-6

The aim of this paper is to describe the distinctive ultrasound findings of a case of vaginal bleeding caused by the presence of a foreign body. We present the case of an infant who consulted for vaginal bleeding and foul-smelling discharge. The ultrasound revealed signs of vaginal distension due to heterogeneous-hematic contents and parietal thickening. At Doppler examination, a striking finding of increased vascularization limited to the upper two-thirds of the vaginal wall was found, which was initially interpreted as a sign of local inflammation suggesting the presence of an underlying foreign body. At direct vaginoscopic examination remains of toilet paper in the vaginal fundus were found. The presence of a foreign body in the vagina is an uncommon cause of discharge and vaginal bleeding in pediatrics, therefore, this etiology should be kept in mind when the adequate clinical context arises. Doppler ultrasound represents a first-line complementary method when this entity is suspected.