Ultrasound findings of the physiological changes and most common breast diseases during pregnancy and lactation.

Because of the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and lactation, diagnostic ultrasound of the breast during these periods is a challenge for physicians. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of imaging, anatomy, and physiology of the breast is important to effectively diagnosing diseases that can arise in women who are pregnancy or lactating. The aim of this article was to review the physiological changes that occur in the breasts during pregnancy and lactation, as well as to describe the main features of the breast diseases that occur most frequently during these periods.

O diagnóstico ultrassonográfico das mamas durante a gravidez e lactação representa um desafio para o médico, em função das alterações fisiológicas próprias destes períodos. Para tanto, é essencial uma compreensão das imagens, da anatomia e da fisiologia mamárias para diagnosticar mais eficazmente doenças concomitantes. O presente artigo teve como objetivo fazer uma revisão das alterações fisiológicas que ocorrem nas mamas durante a gravidez e lactação, bem como relatar as principais características ultrassonográficas das doenças mamárias mais frequentes nestes períodos.

[Adequacy of the device intrauterine by ultrasound evaluation: postpartum and post-abortion insertion versus insertion during the menstrual cycle]. / Adequação do dispositivo intrauterino pela avaliação ultrassonográfca: inserção pós-parto e pós-abortamento versus inserção durante o ciclo menstrual.

PURPOSE: To compare by transvaginal ultrasound the position of the intrauterine device (IUD) inside the uterine cavity, depending on the time of insertion, postpartum and post-abortion, and during the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Epidemiologic, observational and cross-sectional study carried out between February and July, 2013. A total of 290 women were included, 205 of them with insertion during the menstrual cycle and 85 during the postpartum and post-abortion periods. The independent variables were: age, parity, time of use, insertion time, number of returns to family planning, satisfaction with the method, wish to continue using the device, symptoms and complications. The dependent variable was the adequate position of the IUD inside the uterine cavity. The χ² test with Pearson's correction and the Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis, with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: The average age was 29.4 years and the average time of IUD use was 2.7 years; 39.3% of the women had symptoms associated with the method, the most frequent being menorrhagia (44.7%). The degree of satisfaction was 85% and 61.4% of the women returned two or more times for consultation about family planning. Age, parity and the position of the uterus in the pelvic cavity was not associated with a poor position of the IUD inside the uterine cavity (p>0.05). Insertion during the menstrual cycle was significantly more associated with a correct position of the IUD than postpartum and post-abortion insertion (p<0.028). CONCLUSION: Postpartum and post-abortion insertion showed worse results regarding the adequacy of IUD position, a fact that was not observed regarding age, parity or position of the uterus in the pelvic cavity.