Ultrasonographic findings in female inmates in a prison unit in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the ultrasonographic findings in female inmates in a prison unit in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, and to analyze the associations between ultrasonographic findings and sociodemographic characteristics.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that analyzed the ultrasonographic examinations performed in consecutive female inmates in a prison unit in the city of São Paulo, between 2015 and 2020. The following ultrasound examinations were performed: soft tissue, thyroid, cervical, breast, transvaginal, pelvic gynecology, total abdomen, upper abdomen, and kidney/urinary tract in B-mode, with color Doppler, or both.

Results: The sample consisted of 478 women who underwent 1,274 ultrasound examinations. The mean age was 40.0 years (range, 22-73 years). Over half (58.2%) of the women were single, 50.2% were White, and 59.6% self-identified as heterosexual. An ultrasonographic finding of uterine myoma was associated with older age (p = 0.022), higher body mass index (p = 0.022), and being tattooed (p = 0.040). An ultrasonographic finding of simple ovarian cyst was associated with sexual orientation (p = 0.020), whereas a finding of adenomyosis were associated with older age (p = 0.012). An ultrasonographic finding of polycystic ovaries was associated with younger age (p < 0.001). The most common ultrasonographic findings were uterine myoma (in 13.6%), biliary lithiasis (in 13.4%), and renal lithiasis (in 11.5%).

Conclusion: The most common ultrasonographic findings in female inmates were uterine myoma, biliary lithiasis, and renal lithiasis.