Hysterosalpingography in the assessment of proximal tubal pathology: a review of congenital and acquired abnormalities

Abstract

Tubal and peritoneal disease are the main causes of infertility. Tubal pathology can be either congenital malformation or acquired, proximal or distal, unilateral or bilateral and transient or permanent. Several imaging methods such as laparoscopy, fluoroscopy, saline infusion sonography, and hysterosalpingography (HSG) have been used in the assessment of tubal and peritoneal pathology. Although laparoscopy is the modality of choice for investigating tubal patency and pelvic structure in many infertility centers, HSG is usually the initial diagnostic method for infertility workup because of its ease of performance, accuracy, and minimal risk of complications. This method provides useful information about size, contour, and anatomy of the inner surface of the fallopian tubes and is the gold standard for evaluation of tubal lumen. Tubal and peritubal pathology show various imaging manifestations on HSG. This review illustrates the radiographic features of congenital and acquired structural abnormalities of the proximal tubal pathology and along with etiology of proximal obstruction or occlusion will be described.