Diagnostic Accuracy of Refractory Shadowing from Uterine Leiomyomas: Sonographic-Pathologic Correlation

This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Radiology & Imaging, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2010 to June 2011 with a view to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of refractory shadowing on transabdominal pelvic sonography for leiomyomas and in differentiating them from other pelvic masses. Histopathological examination of the surgically resected masses was taken as the standard diagnostic tool. A total number of 50 patients of pelvic masses were studied. It was observed that a pattern of sharp, discrete, shadow was typical of leiomyoma, which reduces diagnostic ambiguity. The mean age of the patients was 38 years. Mean size of the masses was 4.25±3.25cm. Taking histopathological examination as the Gold standard, accuracy of refractory shadowing on transabdominal sonography in diagnosis of leiomyoma was 65.1%. Specificity and sensitivity were 90.3% and 54.2% respectively. Positive predictive value was 92.9% and negative predictive value was 45.9%. Statistical analysis revealed strong association of refractory shadowing with diagnosis of leiomyomas (p<0.01).