Ultrasonographic findings of the pelvic masses

Abstract

Ultrasonography is most commonly utilized diagnostic tool in obstetric and gynecology for the evaluation of patient with a pelviι mass or pregnancy. For it is characterized by no radiation hazard , noninvasive examination and high diagnostic accuracy. Also it affords an accurate assessment of the presence, size, location and internal consistency of a pelvic mass. The recent availability and improved resolution of realtime scanning have afforded a more flexible and complete approach to evaluation of normal and abnormal structures in the pelvis.We analyzed ultrasonographic findings in 154 pathologically proven cases of pelvic mass examined at Korea General Hospital from January 1983 to Apri11984.The results were as follows:1. The age d istribution was from 12 years to 66 years and the majority of patients were bet ween the ages of 21 and 50 years (91 .4%).2. Th e incidence of pelvic mass was 27.9% in uterine leiomyoma, 22.7 % in ovarian cyst, 13.0% in ad. enomyosis and 8.4% in serous cystadenoma.3. Mild to moderatel y echogenic nodular uterine enlargement with some cystic change (81 .4%) of leio. myoma and multiple small vesicular pattern of intrauterine contents with uterine enlargement of H-mole were the most common ultrasonographic findings.The location and type of leiomyoma were most common in the fundus and body (95 .3%) , and intramural myoma (53.5 %).The most frequent finding of ovarian teratoma was cystic mass with echogenic focus (4 1.7%) but the echogenic appearance of the lesions was extremely variable.The ultrasonographic findings of ectopκ pregnancy were cystic or complex ad nexal mass (80 .0%), with or without fluid in cul-de-sac and devi at ion of uterus by adnexal mass.4. Accuracy of ultrasonography in determining the overall correct diagnosis of the pel vic masses compared with proven diagnosis was approximately 61.7%. The diagnostic accuracy was 90.7 % in uterine leiomyoma, 100% in H-mole and 80.0% in ectop ic pregnancy.