[Current status of vaginal ultrasound--a worldwide survey]

In the last five years, vaginosonography has become a routine procedure in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Many obstetricians, gynaecologists, radiologists and ultrasonographers have recognized the advantages of this method. A number of manufacturers of ultrasound equipment offer several types of vaginal probes. Nevertheless, the rapid development of vaginosonography has led to some disadvantages concerning a standardised terminology and image display. In this study we collected data on the current standards of vaginosonography. To gain data on the current use of vaginosonography, we sent out questionnaires to the 1107 departments of Obstetrics/Gynaecology in the FIGO Registry of 1985. In an accompanying letter we asked the chairmen to pass on the questionnaire to the appropriate specialist. The questionnaire was designed to gather information about the personnel performing vaginosonography and such as technique, transducer frequency, position of the patient and image display used. We received 366 responses. Vaginosonographic investigations are performed in 84% of the Obstetrics/Gynaecological University Departments, of which 90% of vaginosonography was performed by an obstetrician or gynaecologist, 5% by a radiologist and 5% by a technician. Predominantly end firing scanners were preferred. The number of electronic and mechanical scanners were nearly identical (55% vs 45%). The preference for a scanner with a narrow (less than 120 degrees) or wide angle (greater than 120 degrees) was very similar (53% vs 47%). More than half of the replies indicated (54%) used a transducer frequency of 5 MHz, 46% preferred scanners with a frequency between 5.5 and 7.5 MHz. In 55%, the gynaecological examination table was considered superior to a flat table.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)