[Does 3D sonography present new perspectives for gynecology and obstetrics?]

3D-sonography opens a new chapter of ultrasound-imaging. The aim of our study was, to summarise our preliminary experiences in the clinical application of this method. One-hundred and fifty patients were investigated with the use of transabdominal transducers. The scanning is performed after targeting the three-dimensional region by the volume box. The three planes are displayed simultaneously on the screen. Analysis can be performed on any possible plane within the stored volume (tomography). Surface imaging and transparent imaging can be calculated and displayed by a work-station. Three-dimensional ultrasound makes complete imaging and documentation of sonographically investigated structures feasible. The possibility of arbitrarily often repeatable systematic analyses without risk for the patient seems to be the more important advantage than statistical simultaneous imaging. Plastic imaging of structures, especially of foetuses, in the surface and transparent modes has been made possible for the first time. Biometry can also be measured in three dimensions (volumetry). Volume documentation provides the possibility of arbitrarily repeatable "real-time" scanning. By this means, any plane can be reanalyzed, remeasured and reassessed. This kind of documentation provides advantages in clinical, scientific, didactic and legal aspects. The first experiences with this new method seem to be promising. Further studies have to be conducted to evaluate the diagnostic significance of 3D-sonography in our field of specialisation.