Transvaginal sonography of postmenopausal ovaries with pathologic correlation

Area of Science:

• Gynecologic imaging
• Pelvic ultrasonography
• Postmenopausal health

Background:

• Transvaginal sonography (TVS) is a key imaging modality in gynecologic diagnostics.
• Accurate ovarian visualization in postmenopausal women is crucial for detecting pathology.
• Correlation between imaging findings and pathological examination is essential for validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To correlate the sonographic appearance of postmenopausal ovaries with pathological findings.
• To assess the detection rates and accuracy of transvaginal sonography in visualizing postmenopausal ovaries.
• To evaluate the diagnostic performance of TVS in identifying ovarian lesions in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective correlation of transvaginal sonography (TVS) findings with pathological examination.
• Inclusion of 67 ovaries from 34 postmenopausal women.
• Analysis of ovarian size, detection rates, and identification of lesions.

Main Results:

• TVS detected at least one ovary in 85% of women; both ovaries in 60%.
• Normal visualized postmenopausal ovary size: 2.2 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm; average volume 2.6 cm³.
• Positive predictive value for ovarian mass detection was 94%; negative predictive value was 92% for lesion exclusion.

Conclusions:

• Transvaginal sonography (TVS) can accurately delineate postmenopausal ovaries in most cases.
• Pathologic lesions are rarely missed by TVS, though smaller atrophic ovaries may go undetected.
• TVS demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for detecting ovarian pathology in postmenopausal women.