What Is A Decidual Cast?
A deciduous cast (also known as a deciduous uterus) is a term used to refer to the condition in which there are no viable uterine remnants left after menstruation. These uteri may have been removed during surgery or they may be naturally shed at some point in time. A woman’s body will continue to produce blood until she experiences menopause, but it does not contain any remaining uterine tissue.
The word “deciduous” refers to the fact that these uteruses do not contain any mature uterine tissue, but rather just immature tissue. The term “cast” comes from the Latin word for tree. In other words, these uteri are made up of small pieces of wood that are called casts. They are found in women between ages 15 and 45 years old and usually disappear completely by age 50 years old.
In general, a deciduous cast is considered to be a normal part of aging. However, it is possible for a woman with a deciduous cast to experience symptoms such as pain during sexual activity or even infertility. There are many different types of deciduous casts. Some women may only have one type while others may have multiple types.
For example, some women may have a single type that disappears entirely over time while others might develop additional types over their lifetime.
Common types of deciduous casts include:
Decidual cast: Also known as caruncle, a decidual cast is a protective barrier that is created in the uterus to protect a fetus.
Vascularized uterine lining: Up to the age of 40 weeks of pregnancy, the woman’s body will create a lining that contains blood vessels (vascularized) that can nourish the fetus directly.
Endometrium: The endometrium is the lining of the uterus and it comes in two different types: ciliated and non-ciliated. The ciliated type is made up of mucous and non-ciliated consists of tall column like cells that are not motile or able to move.
Fimbriated: This is a common type of deciduous cast that is typically found in women who have just started their period between the ages of 10 and 15. A fimbriated deciduous cast is a small piece of tissue that has tiny hairlike projections (fimbriae).
Sloughing: In some cases, the cast may slough off of the inside of the uterus. When this occurs, the dead tissue is sent to the cervix or vaginal area.
Decidua basalis: This type of deciduous cast develops during the first trimester and consists mainly of blood vessels.
Corpora sclerotica: The corpora sclerotica are the dense connective tissues in the wall of the uterus that help to strengthen the wall. These types of casts form during the second trimester and typically disappear completely by the age of 40 years old.
Deciduuma: This cast is created during the third trimester and consists of blood vessels and fibrous tissue.
Sources & references used in this article:
The decidual cast of ectopic pregnancy: a confusing ultrasonographic appearance by WM Marks, RA Filly, PW Callen, FC Laing – Radiology, 1979 – pubs.rsna.org
Decidual cast in a girl receiving depot medroxyprogesterone acetate—a case report by V Singh, N Talib, J Strickland – Journal of pediatric and adolescent …, 2007 – Elsevier
Early intrauterine pregnancy or decidual cast: an anatomic‐‐sonographic approach. by P Nelson, JD Bowie… – Journal of Ultrasound in …, 1983 – Wiley Online Library
Shed decidual cast simulating an intrauterine fetus by MG Dunne – American Journal of Roentgenology, 1982 – Am Roentgen Ray Soc
Decidual cast after discontinuation of oral contraceptives use in a young girl by Y Şen, EA Cimbek, NS Uğraş – Journal of pediatric and adolescent …, 2013 – Elsevier
A case of unusual course of adolescent menorrhagia: decidual cast as a side effect of treatment by A Torres, E Baszak-Radomańska, K Torres… – Fertility and sterility, 2009 – Elsevier
