title: Transvaginal ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of adenomyoma versus leiomyoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the reliability of transvaginal ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of adenomyoma versus leiomyoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative transvaginal ultrasonographic results were compared with postoperative pathologic findings in 405 women who underwent surgery for symptomatic uterine nodularity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For adenomyoma diagnosis, transvaginal ultrasonography demonstrated a sensitivity of 87%, a specificity of 98%, a positive predictive value of 74.1%, and a negative predictive value of 98.6%, compared with a sensitivity of 96.1%, a specificity of 83.3%, a positive predictive value of 98.4%, and negative predictive value of 35.7% for leiomyoma diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transvaginal ultrasonography is an effective, noninvasive, and relatively inexpensive procedure for the preoperative differential diagnosis of adenomyoma versus leiomyoma.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanotti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brioschi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014621:Vagina