Evaluation of adnexal masses using three-dimensional ultrasonographic technology: preliminary report

The purpose of the current study was to demonstrate the ability of three-dimensional ultrasonographic technology to enhance the morphologic scoring system and further improve the ability to differentiate benign from malignant ovarian masses. We performed conventional two-dimensional and three-dimensional transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasonography on eight women with adnexal masses. All patients underwent exploratory laparotomy or diagnostic laparoscopy. The three-dimensional ultrasonographic findings were compared with the two-dimensional ultrasonograms, the intraoperative observations, and gross and histopathologic findings. The morphologic scoring system as described by Sassone and coworkers was adopted, with scores of less than 9 suggestive of benign lesions, and this system was applied in both the two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonographic examinations. The morphologic scores were subsequently compared. The images were dissected in the XYZ planes, and the areas suggestive of malignancy, as suggested by two-dimensional ultrasonography, were determined to be either negative or positive and confirmatory. In each of the eight adnexal masses, three-dimensional ultrasonography confirmed the preoperative diagnoses. The morphologic scores did not differ between two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonograms for the benign cysts. In one case of benign solid fibroma, both the two-dimensional and three-dimensional gray scale morphologic scores were falsely positive at greater than 9. In one case of malignant serous papillary cystadenocarcinoma the two-dimensional morphologic score was a 9, where- as the three-dimensional score was 13. This difference in scores can be attributed to the additional views available with three-dimensional volume scanning, which allowed better characterization of the pathologic conditions. In addition, three-dimensional sonographic technology had the added advantage of high-speed image acquisition and recording to decrease the time of scanning to improve patient comfort. Furthermore, three-dimensional ultrasonography allowed the real-time analysis of the acquired image data to be conducted at a later time when the patient is off the examination table. Our preliminary results suggest that three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonographic technology can enhance and facilitate the morphologic evaluation of both benign and malignant adnexal masses.