The Role of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Gynecologic/Pelvic Tumours

Abstract

Pelvic tumours are common in women. This study reviews the applications of ultrasound in the diagnosis of uterine, ovarian and metastatic pelvic neoplasms in Pakistani women. Twenty-seven patients with gynecologic pelvic masses were assessed using Trans-abdominal Sonography (TAS). TAS was conducted with patient in the supine position and with full bladder techniques. Ultrasound was performed with a real time scanner with 3.5 and 5.0 MHz abdominal sector scan transducers. The mean age of the study population was 40.8 years (range, 20 to 70 years). 66.7% were premenopausal and 33.3% were postmenopausal. Overall, 22 women (81.5%) were referred for surgical investigations and treatment. 10(37%) had benign ovarian cysts, 6(22%) had malignant ovarian masses, 12 (44%) had fibroid uterus, 1 (3.7%) had carcinoma of endometrium, 1 (3.7%) had carcinoma of cervix, 2(7.4 %) had gestational trophoblastic disease and 2 (7.4%) had inconclusive pelvic masses. Therefore, correct diagnosis was reached in 25 cases (92.6%). This report concludes that ultrasound is a useful technique in the diagnosis of pelvic tumors in women. As an adjunct to papanicolaou smear and bimanual examination, it can help in the differentiation of benign and malignant pelvic tumors most of the time. Postmenopausal women with endometrial cavity fluid detected by’ Sonography are at risk for gynecologic cancer. Ultrasound also plays an important role ¡n the staging of ovarian, endometrial and cervical carcinoma. The technique is invaluable to provide reliable evidence to back up clinical Suspicion, to classify correctly physiological cysts by serial scanning and to detect small ovarian tumors and tubo- ovarian abscesses.