[Ultrasonic evaluation of multicystic ovaries in childhood]

High resolution real-time ultrasound showed multicystic pattern of the ovaries in 30 prepubertal infants. In three neonates the cystic abdominal tumour was known since the 33/34 gestational week; the sonographic diagnosis of ovarian cyst was confirmed by the pathologist. The ultrasound study was carried out in 10 patients with suspected idiopathic precocious puberty, whereas in 17 patients, almost 2/3 of the remaining 27 girls, the multicystic ovaries were a fortuitous finding. The maximal diameter of the cysts was 8 mm in multicystic ovaries, one solitary cyst was 13 mm. The follow-up study of 13 patients demonstrated a change in the sonographic pattern. The multicystic structure of the prepubertal ovary is a common finding and must be interpreted as normal.