Evaluation of ovarian tumors in postmenopausal women by transvaginal sonography

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 81 - 88
• Main Authors: Osmers, R.G.W, Osmers, M, von Maydell, B, Wagner, B, Kuhn, W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Genital system. Mammary gland; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Ovarian carcinoma; Ovarian cysts; Ovarian Cysts - classification; Ovarian Cysts - diagnostic imaging; Ovarian Cysts - surgery; Ovarian Neoplasms - classification; Ovarian Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Ovarian Neoplasms - surgery; Ovarian tumors; Postmenopause; Prospective Studies; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound; Postmenopause; Ovarian carcinoma; Ultrasound; Ovarian tumors; Ovarian cysts; Sonography; Performance evaluation; Human; Evaluation; Carcinoma; Malignant tumor; Female genital diseases; Ovarian diseases; Ovary; Transvaginal route; Echography; Cyst; Female; Benign neoplasm; Diagnosis; Preoperative
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-2115(97)00235-2
• ISSN: 0301-2115

Objective: The aim of the present study was the evaluation of simple reproducible sonomorphological criteria for the preoperative evaluation of ovarian tumors in postmenopausal women by use of transvaginal sonography. Study design: Postmenopausal women (≥1 year of secondary amenorrhea) with ovarian tumors ( n=378; tumors ≥3 cm and <3 cm but with solid parts) were examined in a prospective study by transvaginal sonography prior to surgery between 1987 and 1993. The sonomorphological criteria were correlated with the histological findings of the tumors. Results: Of all ovarian tumors in postmenopausal women, 6.3% were functional cysts (follicular or corpus luteum cysts). Almost all of them were detected within the first 5 years of postmenopause. The other ovarian tumors were diagnosed as retention cysts (17.5%), benign neoplasms (39.4%), and malignant tumors (36.8%). Simple ovarian cysts (monolocular, smooth inner wall) represented sonomorphologically the second most frequent type of ovarian tumors in postmenopausal women (35.7%). Of these tumors, 9.6% were diagnosed as malignant. Conclusions: Simple reproducible sonomorphological criteria proved to be a useful clinical parameter in the preoperative evaluation of ovarian tumors.