Intraoperative Ultrasound as a Decision-Making Tool in Modern Gynecologic Oncology

Area of Science:

• Gynecologic Oncology
• Surgical Imaging
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Traditional imaging and intraoperative assessment in gynecologic oncology surgery have limitations.
• Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) offers real-time, high-resolution imaging to address these gaps.
• IOUS is crucial for tumor localization, fertility preservation, surgical decision-making, and complete cytoreduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical applications of IOUS in gynecologic oncology surgery.
• To analyze the accuracy, surgical outcomes, and implementation challenges of IOUS.
• To evaluate the impact of IOUS on oncologic outcomes and patient quality of life.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of clinical studies published between 1998 and 2024.
• Analysis of peer-reviewed literature and institutional experiences.
• Data extraction on detection accuracy, surgical outcomes, and implementation barriers.

Main Results:

• IOUS shows 88-93% sensitivity for subcentimeter metastases, influencing surgical decisions in 25-40% of cases.
• Complete resection rates increased from 68% to 87%, with a 38% reduction in unnecessary lymphadenectomies.
• Successful fertility preservation was achieved in 92% of cases, despite a 12% false-negative rate for micrometastases.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative ultrasound is a transformative technology in precision gynecologic oncology surgery.
• IOUS improves oncologic outcomes and enhances the quality of life for patients.
• Standardization and accessibility challenges need to be addressed for widespread adoption.