Gynecologic ultrasonography or
Gynecologic sonography refers to the application of
medical ultrasonographyDiagnostic sonography is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible pathology or lesions. Obstetric sonography is commonly used during pregnancy and is widely...
to the female pelvic organs, specifically the
uterusThe uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation. The term uterus is used consistently within the medical and related professions; the Germanic term, womb is more common in...
, the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, as well as the
bladderIn anatomy, the urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys prior to disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...
, the adnexa, the
Pouch of DouglasThe rectouterine pouch is the extension of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and back wall of the uterus in the female human body....
, and any findings in the pelvis of relevance outside of
pregnancyPregnancy is the carrying of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, inside the uterus of a female. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets. Human pregnancy is the most studied of all mammalian pregnancies. Obstetrics is the surgical field...
.
The examination can be performed transabdominally, generally with a full bladder which acts as an acoustic window to achieve better visualization of pelvis organs, or trans
vaginaThe vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
lly with a specifically designed vaginal transducer.
Gynecologic ultrasonography or
Gynecologic sonography refers to the application of
medical ultrasonographyDiagnostic sonography is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible pathology or lesions. Obstetric sonography is commonly used during pregnancy and is widely...
to the female pelvic organs, specifically the
uterusThe uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation. The term uterus is used consistently within the medical and related professions; the Germanic term, womb is more common in...
, the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, as well as the
bladderIn anatomy, the urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys prior to disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...
, the adnexa, the
Pouch of DouglasThe rectouterine pouch is the extension of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and back wall of the uterus in the female human body....
, and any findings in the pelvis of relevance outside of
pregnancyPregnancy is the carrying of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, inside the uterus of a female. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets. Human pregnancy is the most studied of all mammalian pregnancies. Obstetrics is the surgical field...
.
Routes
The examination can be performed transabdominally, generally with a full bladder which acts as an acoustic window to achieve better visualization of pelvis organs, or trans
vaginaThe vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
lly with a specifically designed vaginal transducer. Transvaginal imaging utilizes a higher frequency imaging, which gives better resolution of the ovaries, uterus and endometrium (the fallopian tubes are generally not seen unless distended), but is limited to depth of image penetration, whereas larger lesions reaching into the abdomen are better seen transabdominally. Having a full bladder for the transabdominal portion of the exam is helpful because sound travels through fluid with less attenuation to better visualize the uterus and ovaries which lies posteriorly to the bladder. The procedure is regarded as not painful, noninvasive, and relatively safe as no radiation is used. Scans are performed by health care professionals call sonographers, or gynecologists trained in ultrasound.
Applications
Gynecologic sonography is used extensively:
- to assess pelvic organs,
- to diagnose and manage gynecologic problems including endometriosis
Endometriosis is a medical condition in women in which endometrial like cells appear and flourish in areas outside the uterine cavity. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
, leiomyomaA leiomyoma is a benign smooth muscle neoplasm that is not premalignant. They can occur in any organ, but the most common forms occur in the uterus, small bowel and the esophagus.- Etymology:*Greek:**leios = smooth...
, adenomyosisAdenomyosis is a medical condition characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue within the myometrium ....
, ovarian cysts and lesions,
- to identify adnexal masses, including ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is a complication of pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum is developed in any tissue other than the uterine wall. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the Fallopian tube , but implantation can also occur in the cervix, ovaries, and abdomen...
,
- to diagnose gynecologic cancer
Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis...
- in infertility treatments to track the response of ovarian follicle
Ovarian follicle is the basic unit of female reproductive biology and is composed of roughly spherical aggregations of cells found in the ovary. They contain a single oocyte . These structures are periodically initiated to grow and develop, culminating in ovulation of usually a single competent...
s to fertility medicationFertility medication is a drug that enhances fertility. For women, fertility medication is used to stimulate follicle development of the ovary...
(i.e. Pergonal).
Through transvaginal sonography ovarian cysts can be aspirated. This technique is used to obtain human eggs (
oocyteAn oocyte, ovocyte, or rarely ocyte, is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum, or egg cell. An oocyte is part of the ovary development. The germ cells produce a primordial germ cell which becomes an oogonium which marks the start of mitosis...
s) through sonographic directed transvaginal puncture of ovarian follicles in IVF.
Sonohysterography is a specialised procedure by which fluid, usually sterile saline, is installed into the uterine cavity, and gynecologic sonography performed at the same time. The procedure delineates intrauterine pathology such as
polypAn endometrial polyp or uterine polyp is a sessile mass in the inner lining of the uterus. They may have a large flat base or be attached to the uterus by an elongated pedicle . Pedunculated polyps are more common than sessile ones. They range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters...
s,
Asherman's syndrome Asherman's syndrome , also called "uterine synechiae" or intrauterine adhesions , presents a condition characterized by the presence of adhesions and/or fibrosis within the uterine cavity due to scars...
, or submucous
leiomyomaA leiomyoma is a benign smooth muscle neoplasm that is not premalignant. They can occur in any organ, but the most common forms occur in the uterus, small bowel and the esophagus.- Etymology:*Greek:**leios = smooth...
.
External links