Benign pelvic masses: sonographic spectrum

Detection and characterization of pelvic masses are universal and vital applications of sonography. Despite the considerable overlap in the morphologic patterns of different pelvic masses, a characteristic sonographic appearance frequently allows at least a narrow differential diagnosis and often allows a specific diagnostic choice, particularly when the imaging findings are coupled with sufficient clinical data. Color flow and spectral Doppler techniques are evolving and have promising roles in diagnosis of pelvic masses; however, basic sonographic morphology coupled with the necessary clinical input remains the mainstay of sonographic differential diagnosis of pelvic masses. Considerable research is being done on enhancing sonographic differentiation between benign and malignant neoplasms. The most common sonographic features of benign pelvic masses should permit clinically useful characterization. Benign pelvic masses include uterine masses (leiomyoma, hematometra, hematocolpometra), ovarian masses (functional cysts, polycystic ovaries, parovarian cyst, endometrioma, epithelial tumors, dermoid cyst), and miscellaneous masses (pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy).