TY - JOUR
T1 - Standardized terminology of apical structures in the female pelvis based on a structured medical literature review
AU - Society of Gynecologic Surgeons Pelvic Anatomy Group
AU - Balgobin, Sunil
AU - Jeppson, Peter C.
AU - Wheeler, Thomas
AU - Hill, Audra Jolyn
AU - Mishra, Kavita
AU - Mazloomdoost, Donna
AU - Dunivan, Gena C.
AU - Anand, Mallika
AU - Mama, Saifuddin T.
AU - Bochenska, Katarzyna
AU - Lewicky-Gaupp, Christina
AU - Balk, Ethan M.
AU - DeLancey, John
AU - Corton, Marlene M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - The objectives of this study were to review the published literature and selected textbooks, to compare existing usage to that in Terminologia Anatomica, and to compile standardized anatomic nomenclature for the apical structures of the female pelvis. MEDLINE was searched from inception until May 30, 2017, based on 33 search terms generated by group consensus. Resulting abstracts were screened by 11 reviewers to identify pertinent studies reporting on apical female pelvic anatomy. Following additional focused screening for rarer terms and selective representative random sampling of the literature for common terms, accepted full-text manuscripts and relevant textbook chapters were extracted for anatomic terms related to apical structures. From an initial total of 55,448 abstracts, 193 eligible studies were identified for extraction, to which 14 chapters from 9 textbooks were added. In all, 293 separate structural terms were identified, of which 184 had Terminologia Anatomica−accepted terms. Inclusion of several widely used regional terms (vaginal apex, adnexa, cervico-vaginal junction, uretero-vesical junction, and apical segment), structural terms (vesicouterine ligament, paracolpium, mesoteres, mesoureter, ovarian venous plexus, and artery to the round ligament) and spaces (vesicocervical, vesicovaginal, presacral, and pararectal) not included in Terminologia Anatomica is proposed. Furthermore, 2 controversial terms (lower uterine segment and supravaginal septum) were identified that require additional research to support or refute continued use in medical communication. This study confirms and identifies inconsistencies and gaps in the nomenclature of apical structures of the female pelvis. Standardized terminology should be used when describing apical female pelvic structures to facilitate communication and to promote consistency among multiple academic, clinical, and surgical disciplines.
AB - The objectives of this study were to review the published literature and selected textbooks, to compare existing usage to that in Terminologia Anatomica, and to compile standardized anatomic nomenclature for the apical structures of the female pelvis. MEDLINE was searched from inception until May 30, 2017, based on 33 search terms generated by group consensus. Resulting abstracts were screened by 11 reviewers to identify pertinent studies reporting on apical female pelvic anatomy. Following additional focused screening for rarer terms and selective representative random sampling of the literature for common terms, accepted full-text manuscripts and relevant textbook chapters were extracted for anatomic terms related to apical structures. From an initial total of 55,448 abstracts, 193 eligible studies were identified for extraction, to which 14 chapters from 9 textbooks were added. In all, 293 separate structural terms were identified, of which 184 had Terminologia Anatomica−accepted terms. Inclusion of several widely used regional terms (vaginal apex, adnexa, cervico-vaginal junction, uretero-vesical junction, and apical segment), structural terms (vesicouterine ligament, paracolpium, mesoteres, mesoureter, ovarian venous plexus, and artery to the round ligament) and spaces (vesicocervical, vesicovaginal, presacral, and pararectal) not included in Terminologia Anatomica is proposed. Furthermore, 2 controversial terms (lower uterine segment and supravaginal septum) were identified that require additional research to support or refute continued use in medical communication. This study confirms and identifies inconsistencies and gaps in the nomenclature of apical structures of the female pelvis. Standardized terminology should be used when describing apical female pelvic structures to facilitate communication and to promote consistency among multiple academic, clinical, and surgical disciplines.
KW - apex support
KW - apical compartment
KW - apical segment
KW - female pelvic anatomy
KW - gynecology
KW - nomenclature
KW - terminology
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.11.1262
DO - 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.11.1262
M3 - Article
C2 - 31805273
AN - SCOPUS:85080068739
SN - 0002-9378
VL - 222
SP - 204
EP - 218
JO - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
JF - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
IS - 3
ER -