[Pelvic echographic data during normal and pathological development in girls]

From a population of 60 normal females divided in 4 groups of 15 according to age and puberty, standards of uterine length and ovarian volume as measured by ultrasonography were established. The length of the uterus increases moderately with age (mean: 26.4 mm under 2 years of age; 29.5 mm from 2 to 8 years; 36.5 mm from 8 to 12 years) and significantly with puberty (mean: 60 mm), as does the volume of the ovaries (mean: 0.98 cm3 from 8 to 12 years; 3.4 cm3 after puberty). These standards, confirming former data, allow a better understanding of ultrasonographic findings during pathologic growth in young females, such as precocious puberty, delayed puberty, hypopituitarism, or hyperandrogenism. Thus, this investigation may assume an important part in the diagnosis of disorders of puberty, as it is innocuous and may be repeated as often as necessary during the growth of young patients. As it is non invasive and inexpensive, it could be the first investigation in some of these indications.