Transabdominal ultrasound and its correlation with clinical findings in gynaecology

Details of 86 patients with a pelvic mass who underwent a laparotomy under the gynaecological service in St. Vincent's Hospital were reviewed. Findings at laparotomy were correlated with ultrasound findings. Overall, ultrasound appears to be more sensitive and specific in the determination of the origins of a pelvic mass compared to clinical examination. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in detecting a uterine mass is 94 per cent and 99 per cent respectively. This contrasts sharply with clinical examination (sensitivity = 74 per cent; specificity = 94 per cent). The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in detecting an ovarian mass is 92 per cent and 71 per cent. Ultrasound is capable of predicting benign disease with reasonable confidence but the prediction of malignancy is less reliable.