[Ultrasound--future developments]

During the last years, rapid technical evolution has led to the development of transducers with extremely high resolution (generating two-dimensional (2D) sectional scans not mere spacial cuts), thus creating the preconditions for spacial 3D reconstruction from a series of 2D sectional scans. For the 3D technique a transducer is required that can register a multitude of sectional scans of the organ examined. This series can only be reconstructed according to the actual spacial situation by a computer. Transparent calculation of the individual section diaphanous scans results in a 3D image of the organ. The new method presents the advantage of less subjectivity, since the 3D image is not merely created in the mind of the examining specialist, but is reconstructed by the computer. Moreover, the computer image can be disassembled into the original and even sonographically unattainable section scans, thus furnishing additional information. Objective and exact volume calculations, localization and control of the progress of a disease becomes feasible. Further progress in gynecologic ultrasound has been achieved by technical improvement resulting in the applicability of intraluminal sonography for gynecologic indications as well. Due to newly developed microtransducers, the advantages of intraluminal ultrasound, used mainly in angiology up to the present, can now be used for the representation and functional diagnosis of the fallopian tube as well. Some technical problems have, however, yet to be solved. By utilizing a computer-aided evaluation system, ultrasound information, not realized by the human eye, can be represented.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)