title: Transvaginal sonographic diagnosis of ovarian endometrioma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of transvaginal sonography (TVS) in differentiating endometriomas from other adnexal masses.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand thirty-five adnexal masses undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy were evaluated prospectively using TVS. Masses diagnosed as endometrioma according to their sonographic appearance were divided into two groups: those with a round shape, regular margins, thick walls and homogeneous, low-level echoes (group A); or those with irregular margins, internal septations and an anechoic appearance (group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of TVS in diagnosing endometriomas was 86.50% and the specificity 99.11%. The positive predictive value (PPV) and the negative predictive value of the test were calculated to be 91.45% and 98.14%, respectively. By using the criteria determining group A, the PPV of the test increased to 97%, whereas group B had a lower PPV (70.85%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose that the accuracy of TVS in diagnosing endometriomas may be beneficial in various clinical conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ugur
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Soysal
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Soysal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ekici
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gokmen
mesh_terms: D000291:Adnexal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography