Ultrasonographic appearance of an echinococcus ovarian cyst.
BACKGROUND
We describe the ultrasonographic pattern of a pelvic echinococcus cyst, visualized using a vaginal probe and color Doppler.


METHODS
A 27-year-old woman presented with an asymptomatic right adnexal mass. Vaginal ultrasonography revealed a cyst in the posterior cul-de-sac, adjacent to the right ovary, with internal septae resembling a maze or an onion slice structure. Color Doppler revealed peripheral vascularization with a low resistance pattern (resistance index 0.6; pulsatility index 0.93). Benign cysts usually have a simple echogenic pattern. In contrast, ovarian carcinomas have a complex internal structure.


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian echinococcus cysts may have a peculiar ultrasonographic pattern at high-frequency (7.5-MHz) vaginal ultrasonography. Such high-frequency ultrasonography can be a useful tool in the diagnosis of the disease.
Díaz-Recaséns
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. jdiaz-recasens@fjd.es
García-Enguídanos
A
A
Muñoz
I
I
Sáinz de la Cuesta
R
R
D000328:Adult; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography