A comparative study of transvaginal ultrasonography and pelvic arteriogram in assessment of patients with gestational trophoblastic tumour.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the reliability of transvaginal ultrasonography with pelvic arteriography in the assessment of patients with gestational trophoblastic disease.


METHODS
Transvaginal ultrasonography was performed in 24 patients with gestational trophoblastic tumour. Within one week after ultrasound investigation, pelvic arteriography was carried out in each patient. Of 24 cases, 16 patients hadn't been treated by chemical reagent, 5 had accepted 2 to 5 courses of chemotherapy, and 3 had achieved complete remission before both investigations performed.


RESULTS
In 3 patients with complete remission, 2 had no evidence of abnormal findings either on transvaginal ultrasonography or on pelvic arteriography, 1 showed intramyometrial lesions by both methods. In the remaining 21 patients, all demonstrated a abnormal uterine image, and 5 of them accompanied with the finding of parametrium metastatic signs by transvaginal ultrasonography; these abnormal results were confirmed by pelvic arteriographic imaging. However, in two cases without clinical and ultrasonic signs of parametrium metastasis, pelvic arteriography indicated the early metastasis of parametrium vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
Even though it is difficult to predict the early parametrium metastasis in patients with gestational trophoblastic disease by B-ultrasonic investigation, our data would support the introduction of transvaginal ultrasonography in the diagnosis and evaluation of gestational trophoblastic tumour.
Xiang
Y
Y
Peking Union Medical College Hospital, CAMS & PUMC, Beijing 100730.
Yang
X
X
Yang
N
N
Song
H
H
D000792:Angiography; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002820:Hydatidiform Mole, Invasive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000098:blood supply; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*