[Ultrasonic diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma]

Gray-scale ultrasonography was performed prior to surgery in 68 patients with tumors of the ovary. Thirty-four of the 38 benign tumors were considered benign by sonographic criteria. Three of 4 borderline epithelial tumors were considered malignant sonographically, as were 22 of the 26 cancers of the ovary (sensitivity 84%). Nineteen of them were malignant epithelial neoplasms and most were classified as FIGO stages III and IV (76%). In 6 of the 7 patients with stage I and II cancers the latter were considered malignant by sonographic criteria. Twenty-three of the 26 cancers were classified as having a complex structure using the classic ultrasonographic criteria. Histopathological evaluation did not correlate with the ultrasonic findings: sonography could not predict the correct stage and a particular histological type. Nevertheless, ultrasonography is a valuable diagnostic tool as a preoperative procedure in patients with a suspected ovarian neoplasm.