Three-dimensional ultrasonographic evaluation of ovarian tumours: a preliminary study.
Our objective was to determine the accuracy of three dimensional (3D) ultrasonography in the differentiation of ovarian tumours. Women (n = 20) with ovarian tumours (13 benign and seven malignant) were first examined using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography and were then evaluated with three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography. All patients underwent surgery within 7 days of 2D and 3D ultrasonographic evaluations, and a histopathological diagnosis was made. A 2D ultrasonographic diagnosis of malignancy was done using an established scoring system. Diagnostic criteria for ovarian malignancy by 3D ultrasonography were: irregular thick septa, irregular papillary projection, mostly solid tumour, high echogenicity, and irregular inner wall. Compared with 2D ultrasound, 3D ultrasound had a significantly higher specificity (P < 0.005) and accuracy (P < 0.01), and a significantly lower false positive rate (P < 0.005). Our results suggest that 3D ultrasonography might be a better means of differentiating between malignant and benign ovarian tumours. However, in view of the small number of ovarian tumours, these observations must be considered preliminary.
Hata
T
T
Department of Perinatology, Kagawa Medical University, Miki, Japan.
Yanagihara
T
T
Hayashi
K
K
Yamashiro
C
C
Ohnishi
Y
Y
Akiyama
M
M
Manabe
A
A
Miyazaki
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods