Clinical management of incidental findings on pelvic adnexal masses

Multiparametric Ultrasound Examination in Tumor-Like Formations of the Ovaries

Properly diagnosed tumor-like formations of the ovaries facilitate the correct selection of patients who may not require surgery, or choose surgery with minimal access if such intervention is required. Subjective assessment of the features of tumor-like formations with the help of ultrasound diagnostics, including compression elastography, proved to be highly effective in the differential diagnosis of bulky ovarian formations. All tumor-like formations have their sonographic features that allow making a reliable diagnosis of a particular formation. The article reveals data on the diagnostic significance of multiparametric ultrasound imaging in the detection of ovarian tumor-like formations. A detailed sonographic picture of tumor-like formations in B-mode, color, and pulse Doppler mode and compression sonoelastography mode was analyzed. This examination was especially relevant for women of reproductive age, as it depended on the further tactics of treatment of each patient. For all types of tumor-like formations ovaries, a qualitative feature was determined - elastotype on the Ueno scale and the index of stiffness (Strain Ratio) - a quantitative indicator. Follicular cysts, endometrioid and periovarian cysts were found to belong to the 0 elastotype. Cysts of the corpus luteum belonged to the II elastotype on the Ueno scale. The lowest values of the stiffness index were seen in follicular and periovarian cysts, and the highest value was observed in endometrioid cysts. Our results have shown that ultrasound examination of ovarian tumors is an accurate and highly informative method.

Usefulness of transabdominal real-time sonoelastography in the evaluation of ovarian lesions: preliminary results

OBJECTIVE

We aim to evaluate and describe the tissue elasticity characteristics of various ovarian lesions with sonoelastography.

METHODS

35 patients (age range 16-85 years; mean age 40.8 years) underwent sonoelastography and later MRI. Histopathological confirmation of all lesions was carried out, except eight of endometriomas and six of septated cysts which were confirmed on MRI and follow-up ultrasonography. Strain ratios and elastogram patterns were recorded. Lesions were classified into three groups (Group 1: cystic lesions, Group 2: benign tumours and Group 3: malignant lesions) and findings were compared between groups for both observers. Interobserver agreement was analyzed. Optimal cut-off values for strain ratios were achieved with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS

Ovarian endometriomas and complex cystic lesions were observed hard on elastograms with high strain ratios, and malignant lesions were observed mostly soft with very small strain ratios. Benign tumours had average tissue stiffness, observed harder than the malignant lesions, and strain ratios ranged from 4 to 14. The differences in patterns and strain ratios between groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05 for both observers).

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that malignant ovarian lesions have softer tissue property than benign lesions and cystic lesions in terms of elastogram patterns and strain ratios.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Most ovarian lesions contain solid and cystic parts which make the malignant and benign lesions look similar on imaging modalities. Using real-time sonoelastography as an adjunct to other imaging modalities may improve the differentiation of malignant ovarian lesions from benign lesions.