title: Transvaginal interventional procedures: aspiration, biopsy, and catheter drainage.
abstract: Transvaginal ultrasonographically (US) guided procedures are simple and safe and often represent the only means of access to pelvic disease. Aspiration of cystic pelvic masses and core biopsy of solid pelvic masses can be easily performed by using the transvaginal route, an endoluminal US transducer, and a needle guide. Because of concerns about false-negative diagnosis and potential tumor seeding with biopsy of primary ovarian cystic lesions, the indications for transvaginal aspiration and biopsy of ovarian and adnexal lesions are predominantly therapeutic. Similarly, using an endoluminal probe with modification of the guide, one can also perform safe and effective trocar catheter drainage of pelvic abscesses via the transvaginal route. The transvaginal route is ideally suited to pelvic abscess drainage because of the proximity of the vaginal fornices to most pelvic fluid collections. The transvaginal route has the disadvantage of being semisterile; because of the risk of superinfecting previously noninfected pelvic pathologic conditions, the transvaginal approach should be used only for solid lesions or cystic lesions that can be completely aspirated. Familiarity with the transvaginal route of access is crucial for adequate treatment of many gynecologic and nongynecologic pelvic pathologic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, USA. moneill@partners.org
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rafferty
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Arellano
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gervais
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Yoder
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*