Benign descriptors and ADNEX in two-step strategy to estimate risk of malignancy in ovarian tumors: retrospective validation in IOTA5 multicenter cohort

OBJECTIVE

Previous work has suggested that the ultrasound-based benign simple descriptors (BDs) can reliably exclude malignancy in a large proportion of women presenting with an adnexal mass. This study aimed to validate a modified version of the BDs and to validate a two-step strategy to estimate the risk of malignancy, in which the modified BDs are followed by the Assessment of Different NEoplasias in the adneXa (ADNEX) model if modified BDs do not apply.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis using data from the 2-year interim analysis of the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) Phase-5 study, in which consecutive patients with at least one adnexal mass were recruited irrespective of subsequent management (conservative or surgery). The main outcome was classification of tumors as benign or malignant, based on histology or on clinical and ultrasound information during 1 year of follow-up. Multiple imputation was used when outcome based on follow-up was uncertain according to predefined criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 8519 patients were recruited at 36 centers between 2012 and 2015. We excluded patients who were already in follow-up at recruitment and all patients from 19 centers that did not fulfil our criteria for good-quality surgical and follow-up data, leaving 4905 patients across 17 centers for statistical analysis. Overall, 3441 (70%) tumors were benign, 978 (20%) malignant and 486 (10%) uncertain. The modified BDs were applicable in 1798/4905 (37%) tumors, of which 1786 (99.3%) were benign. The two-step strategy based on ADNEX without CA125 had an area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.92-0.96). The risk of malignancy was slightly underestimated, but calibration varied between centers. A sensitivity analysis in which we expanded the definition of uncertain outcome resulted in 1419 (29%) tumors with uncertain outcome and an AUC of the two-step strategy without CA125 of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.91-0.95).

CONCLUSION

A large proportion of adnexal masses can be classified as benign by the modified BDs. For the remaining masses, the ADNEX model can be used to estimate the risk of malignancy. This two-step strategy is convenient for clinical use. © 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Imaging in gynecological disease (24): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of ovarian mature cystic teratomas

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and ultrasound features of ovarian mature cystic teratomas (MCTs).

METHODS

This was a retrospective study. From the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) database, we identified patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of MCT who had undergone transvaginal ultrasound examination between 1999 and 2016 (IOTA phases 1, 2, 3 and 5) in one of five centers. Ultrasound was performed by an experienced examiner who used the standardized IOTA examination technique and terminology. In addition to extracting data from the IOTA database, available two-dimensional grayscale and color or power Doppler images were reviewed retrospectively to identify typical ultrasound features of MCT described previously and detect possible new features using pattern recognition. All images were reviewed by two independent examiners and further discussed with two ultrasound experts to reach consensus.

RESULTS

Included in the study were 454 patients with histologically confirmed MCT. Median age was 33 (range, 8-90)  years and 66 (14.5%) patients were postmenopausal. Most MCTs were described by the original ultrasound examiner as unilocular (262/454 (57.7%)) or multilocular (70/454 (15.4%)) cysts with mixed echogenicity of cystic fluid (368/454 (81.1%)), acoustic shadowing (328/454 (72.2%)) and no or little vascularization on color Doppler (color score 1, 240/454 (52.9%); color score 2, 123/454 (27.1%)). The median largest lesion diameter was 66 (range, 15-310)  mm. A correct preoperative diagnosis of MCT was suggested by the original ultrasound examiner in 372/454 (81.9%) cases. On retrospective review of ultrasound images of 334 MCTs that had quality sufficient for assessment, 'dots and/or lines' and/or 'echogenic white ball' (typical features according to the literature) were present in 271/334 (81.1%) masses. We identified four new ultrasound features characteristic of MCT: 'cotton wool tufts', 'mushroom cap sign', 'completely hyperechogenic lesion' and 'starry sky sign'. At least one classical or novel ultrasound feature was present in 315/334 (94.3%) MCTs. Twenty-nine (8.7%) MCTs manifested vascularized solid tissue, of which seven exhibited no typical features.

CONCLUSION

We provide a comprehensive overview of conventional and newly described ultrasound features of MCTs. Only a small proportion of MCTs did not manifest any of the typical features. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Imaging in gynecological disease (23): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of ovarian carcinosarcoma

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of ovarian carcinosarcoma.

METHODS

This was a retrospective multicenter study. Patients with a histological diagnosis of ovarian carcinosarcoma, who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination between 2010 and 2019, were identified from the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) database. Additional patients who were examined outside of the IOTA study were identified from the databases of the participating centers. The masses were described using the terms and definitions of the IOTA group. Additionally, two experienced ultrasound examiners reviewed all available images to identify typical ultrasound features using pattern recognition.

RESULTS

Ninety-one patients with ovarian carcinosarcoma who had undergone ultrasound examination were identified, of whom 24 were examined within the IOTA studies and 67 were examined outside of the IOTA studies. Median age at diagnosis was 66 (range, 33-91) years and 84/91 (92.3%) patients were postmenopausal. Most patients (67/91, 73.6%) were symptomatic, with the most common complaint being pain (51/91, 56.0%). Most tumors (67/91, 73.6%) were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage III or IV. Bilateral lesions were observed on ultrasound in 46/91 (50.5%) patients. Ascites was present in 38/91 (41.8%) patients. The median largest tumor diameter was 100 (range, 18-260) mm. All ovarian carcinosarcomas contained solid components, and most were described as solid (66/91, 72.5%) or multilocular-solid (22/91, 24.2%). The median diameter of the largest solid component was 77.5 (range, 11-238) mm. Moderate or rich vascularization was found in 78/91 (85.7%) cases. Retrospective analysis of ultrasound images and videoclips using pattern recognition in 73 cases revealed that all tumors had irregular margins and inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid components. Forty-seven of 73 (64.4%) masses appeared as a solid tumor with cystic areas. Cooked appearance of the solid tissue was identified in 28/73 (38.4%) tumors. No pathognomonic ultrasound sign of ovarian carcinosarcoma was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Ovarian carcinosarcomas are usually diagnosed in postmenopausal women and at an advanced stage. The most common ultrasound appearance is a large solid tumor with irregular margins, inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue and cystic areas. The second most common pattern is a large multilocular-solid mass with inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Reproductive outcome after early miscarriage: comparing vaginal misoprostol treatment with expectant management in a planned secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare the reproductive outcome after early miscarriage between women managed expectantly and those treated with vaginal misoprostol.

METHODS

This study was a planned secondary analysis of data collected prospectively in a randomized controlled trial comparing expectant management with vaginal misoprostol treatment (single dose of 800 µg) in women with early embryonic or anembryonic miscarriage and vaginal bleeding. The outcome measures were the number of women with a clinical pregnancy conceived within 14 months after complete miscarriage and the outcome of these pregnancies in terms of live birth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and legal termination of pregnancy. The participants replied to a questionnaire sent by post covering their reproductive history ≤ 14 months after the index miscarriage was complete. Supplementary information and data for women who did not return their questionnaire were retrieved from medical records.

RESULTS

Of 94 women randomized to misoprostol treatment and 95 allocated to expectant management, 94 and 90 women, respectively, were included for analysis. Information on reproductive outcome was available for 89/94 (95%) and 83/90 (92%) women, respectively. Complete miscarriage without surgical evacuation was achieved within 31 days in 85% (76/89) of the women in the misoprostol group and in 65% (54/83) of those managed expectantly. The proportion of women treated with surgical evacuation was 33% (27/83) in the expectant-management group vs 12% (11/89) in the misoprostol group. At 14 months after the index miscarriage was complete, 75% (67/89) of women treated with misoprostol and 75% (62/83) of those managed expectantly had achieved at least one clinical pregnancy, while 40% (36/89) and 35% (29/83), respectively, had had at least one live birth (mean difference, 5.5% (95% CI, -9.7 to 20.3%)). When considering the outcome of all pregnancies conceived within 14 months after the index miscarriage was complete, 63% (56/89) of women in the misoprostol group and 55% (46/83) of those in the expectant-management group delivered a live baby after a pregnancy (mean difference, 7.5% (95% CI, -7.9 to 22.4%)).

CONCLUSION

Women with early miscarriage can be reassured that fertility is similar after misoprostol treatment and expectant management. © 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Psychological impact of early miscarriage and client satisfaction with treatment: comparison between expectant management and misoprostol treatment in a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare the short- and long-term emotional distress (grief, anxiety and depressive symptoms) after early miscarriage and satisfaction with treatment between women randomized to expectant management vs vaginal misoprostol treatment.

METHODS

This was a preplanned analysis of data collected during a randomized controlled trial comparing expectant management with misoprostol treatment in women with early anembryonic or embryonic miscarriage and vaginal bleeding. If the miscarriage was not complete on day 31 after inclusion, surgical evacuation was recommended. The main outcomes were levels of anxiety and grief, depressive symptoms and client satisfaction with the treatment, which were assessed using the following validated psychometric self-assessment instruments: Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI, Form Y), Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS), Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S; self-reported version) and Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8). All women were assessed at four timepoints: on the day of randomization, on the day when the miscarriage was judged to be complete, and at 3 months and 14 months after complete miscarriage. The psychometric and client satisfaction scores were compared between the misoprostol group and the expectant-management group at each assessment. Analysis was performed by the intention-to-treat principle.

RESULTS

Ninety women were randomized to expectant management and 94 to misoprostol treatment. The psychometric and client satisfaction scores were similar in the two treatment groups at all assessment timepoints. At inclusion, 41% (35/86) of the women managed expectantly and 37% (34/92) of those treated with misoprostol had a STAI-state score of > 46 ('high level of anxiety'), and 9% (8/86) and 10% (9/91), respectively, had symptoms of moderate or severe depression (MADRS-S score ≥ 20). In both treatment groups, symptom scores for anxiety and depression were significantly higher at inclusion than after treatment and remained low until 14 months after complete miscarriage. Grief reactions were mild in both groups, with a median PGS score of 40.0 at 3 months and 37.0 at 14 months after complete miscarriage in both treatment groups. Four women treated with misoprostol and two women managed expectantly had a PGS score of > 90 (indicating deep grief) 3 months after complete miscarriage, while one woman managed expectantly had a PGS score of > 90 14 months after complete miscarriage. Women in both treatment groups were satisfied with their management, as indicated by a median CSQ-8 score of > 25 at each assessment. More than 85% of participants in each of the two groups reported that they would recommend the treatment they received to a friend.

CONCLUSIONS

The psychological response to and recovery after early miscarriage did not differ between women treated with misoprostol and those managed expectantly. Satisfaction with treatment was high in both treatment groups. Our findings support patient involvement when deciding on the management of early miscarriage. © 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Vessel morphology depicted by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound as second-stage test in adnexal tumors that are difficult to classify: prospective diagnostic accuracy study

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether vessel morphology depicted by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound improves discrimination between benignity and malignancy if used as a second-stage test in adnexal masses that are difficult to classify.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational international multicenter diagnostic accuracy study. Consecutive patients with an adnexal mass underwent standardized transvaginal two-dimensional (2D) grayscale and color or power Doppler and 3D power Doppler ultrasound examination by an experienced examiner, and those with a 'difficult' tumor were included in the current analysis. A difficult tumor was defined as one in which the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) logistic regression model-1 (LR-1) yielded an ambiguous result (risk of malignancy, 8.3% to 25.5%), or as one in which the ultrasound examiner was uncertain regarding classification as benign or malignant when using subjective assessment. Even when the ultrasound examiner was uncertain, he/she was obliged to classify the tumor as most probably benign or most probably malignant. For each difficult tumor, one researcher created a 360° rotating 3D power Doppler image of the vessel tree in the whole tumor and another of the vessel tree in a 5-cm³ spherical volume selected from the most vascularized part of the tumor. Two other researchers, blinded to the patient's history, 2D ultrasound findings and histological diagnosis, independently described the vessel tree using predetermined vessel features. Their agreed classification was used. The reference standard was the histological diagnosis of the mass. The sensitivity of each test for discriminating between benign and malignant difficult tumors was plotted against 1 - specificity on a receiver-operating-characteristics diagram, and the test with the point furthest from the reference line was considered to have the best diagnostic ability.

RESULTS

Of 2403 women with an adnexal mass, 376 (16%) had a difficult mass. Ultrasound volumes were available for 138 of these cases. In 79/138 masses, the ultrasound examiner was uncertain about the diagnosis based on subjective assessment, in 87/138, IOTA LR-1 yielded an ambiguous result and, in 28/138, both methods gave an uncertain result. Of the masses, 38/138 (28%) were malignant. Among tumors that were difficult to classify as benign or malignant by subjective assessment, the vessel feature 'densely packed vessels' had the best discriminative ability (sensitivity 67% (18/27), specificity 83% (43/52)) and was slightly superior to subjective assessment (sensitivity 74% (20/27), specificity 60% (31/52)). In tumors in which IOTA LR-1 yielded an ambiguous result, subjective assessment (sensitivity 82% (14/17), specificity 79% (55/70)) was superior to the best vascular feature, i.e. changes in the diameter of vessels in the whole tumor volume (sensitivity 71% (12/17), specificity 69% (48/70)).

CONCLUSION

Vessel morphology depicted by 3D power Doppler ultrasound may slightly improve discrimination between benign and malignant adnexal tumors that are difficult to classify by subjective ultrasound assessment. For tumors in which the IOTA LR-1 model yields an ambiguous result, subjective assessment is superior to vessel morphology as a second-stage test. © 2020 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Typical ultrasound features of various endometrial pathologies described using International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) terminology in women with abnormal uterine bleeding

OBJECTIVE

To describe the ultrasound features of different endometrial and other intracavitary pathologies inpre- and postmenopausal women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding, using the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) terminology.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational multicenter study of consecutive women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding. Unenhanced sonography with color Doppler and fluid-instillation sonography were performed. Endometrial sampling was performed according to each center's local protocol. The histological endpoints were cancer, atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN), endometrial atrophy, proliferative or secretory endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia without atypia, endometrial polyp, intracavitary leiomyoma and other. For fluid-instillation sonography, the histological endpoints were endometrial polyp, intracavitary leiomyoma and cancer. For each histological endpoint, we report typical ultrasound features using the IETA terminology.

RESULTS

The database consisted of 2856 consecutive women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding. Unenhanced sonography with color Doppler was performed in all cases and fluid-instillation sonography in 1857. In 2216 women, endometrial histology was available, and these comprised the study population. Median age was 49 years (range, 19-92 years), median parity was 2 (range, 0-10) and median body mass index was 24.9 kg/m² (range, 16.0-72.1 kg/m² ). Of the study population, 843 (38.0%) women were postmenopausal. Endometrial polyps were diagnosed in 751 (33.9%) women, intracavitary leiomyomas in 223 (10.1%) and endometrial cancer in 137 (6.2%). None (0% (95% CI, 0.0-5.5%)) of the 66 women with endometrial thickness < 3 mm had endometrial cancer or atypical hyperplasia/EIN. Endometrial cancer or atypical hyperplasia/EIN was found in three of 283 (1.1% (95% CI, 0.4-3.1%)) endometria with a three-layer pattern, in three of 459 (0.7% (95% CI, 0.2-1.9%)) endometria with a linear endometrial midline and in five of 337 (1.5% (95% CI, 0.6-3.4%)) cases with a single vessel without branching on unenhanced ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONS

The typical ultrasound features of endometrial cancer, polyps, hyperplasia and atrophy and intracavitary leiomyomas, are described using the IETA terminology. The detection of some easy-to-assess IETA features (i.e. endometrial thickness < 3 mm, three-layer pattern, linear midline and single vessel without branching) makes endometrial cancer unlikely. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Imaging in gynecological disease (18): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of urinary bladder malignancies

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of urinary bladder malignancies diagnosed on transvaginal ultrasound in women presenting with suspected gynecological problems.

METHODS

This was a multicenter retrospective study of women with a histological diagnosis of urinary bladder malignancy that was suspected on transvaginal ultrasound examination. The cases were collected from three centers that specialize in the use of pelvic ultrasound and had been examined between January 2007 and October 2018. Clinical data were obtained from the computer databases and all tumor images were assessed by two of the authors (D.J. and J.K.) to identify characteristic sonographic patterns. We compared the characteristics of tumors between women presenting with symptoms suspicious of urinary bladder malignancy and those without such symptoms.

RESULTS

Thirty women with a confirmed diagnosis of urinary bladder malignancy on histological examination were included. Median age at diagnosis was 70.5 (range 36-88) years. The most common presenting symptom was postmenopausal bleeding, which was recorded in 18 (60%) women. Ten (33%) women had symptoms suspicious of bladder malignancy, of whom six had unexplained visible hematuria, three had unexplained recurrent urinary tract infections and one had dysuria and microhematuria. On histological examination, 23 (77%) women were diagnosed with primary bladder malignancy whilst seven (23%) had metastases in the bladder from other primary tumors. Out of 23 primary tumors, 21 (91%) were of urothelial origin (12 low grade and nine high grade). Most low-grade urothelial carcinomas appeared on ultrasound as irregular papillary growth (11/12, 92%) and were moderately to highly vascular on color Doppler examination (8/12, 67%). The ultrasound appearances of primary non-urothelial and metastatic tumors varied, without a clear common morphological tumor pattern. The tumors found in women with symptoms suggestive of bladder malignancy did not differ unequivocally from those detected in other women in terms of size, ultrasound morphology, vascularity or histological type.

CONCLUSION

Urinary bladder malignancies can be detected in patients undergoing transvaginal ultrasound examination for suspected gynecological problems. Primary urothelial cancers have a relatively uniform morphological pattern, whilst the appearances of other bladder malignancies are more variable. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ultrasound-based risk model for preoperative prediction of lymph-node metastases in women with endometrial cancer: model-development study

OBJECTIVE

To develop a preoperative risk model, using endometrial biopsy results and clinical and ultrasound variables, to predict the individual risk of lymph-node metastases in women with endometrial cancer.

METHODS

A mixed-effects logistic regression model for prediction of lymph-node metastases was developed in 1501 prospectively included women with endometrial cancer undergoing transvaginal ultrasound examination before surgery, from 16 European centers. Missing data, including missing lymph-node status, were imputed. Discrimination, calibration and clinical utility of the model were evaluated using leave-center-out cross validation. The predictive performance of the model was compared with that of risk classification from endometrial biopsy alone (high-risk defined as endometrioid cancer Grade 3/non-endometrioid cancer) or combined endometrial biopsy and ultrasound (high-risk defined as endometrioid cancer Grade 3/non-endometrioid cancer/deep myometrial invasion/cervical stromal invasion/extrauterine spread).

RESULTS

Lymphadenectomy was performed in 691 women, of whom 127 had lymph-node metastases. The model for prediction of lymph-node metastases included the predictors age, duration of abnormal bleeding, endometrial biopsy result, tumor extension and tumor size according to ultrasound and undefined tumor with an unmeasurable endometrium. The model's area under the curve was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.68-0.78), the calibration slope was 1.06 (95% CI, 0.79-1.34) and the calibration intercept was 0.06 (95% CI, -0.15 to 0.27). Using a risk threshold for lymph-node metastases of 5% compared with 20%, the model had, respectively, a sensitivity of 98% vs 48% and specificity of 11% vs 80%. The model had higher sensitivity and specificity than did classification as high-risk, according to endometrial biopsy alone (50% vs 35% and 80% vs 77%, respectively) or combined endometrial biopsy and ultrasound (80% vs 75% and 53% vs 52%, respectively). The model's clinical utility was higher than that of endometrial biopsy alone or combined endometrial biopsy and ultrasound at any given risk threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on endometrial biopsy results and clinical and ultrasound characteristics, the individual risk of lymph-node metastases in women with endometrial cancer can be estimated reliably before surgery. The model is superior to risk classification by endometrial biopsy alone or in combination with ultrasound. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Validation of ultrasound strategies to assess tumor extension and to predict high-risk endometrial cancer in women from the prospective IETA (International Endometrial Tumor Analysis)-4 cohort

OBJECTIVES

To compare the performance of ultrasound measurements and subjective ultrasound assessment (SA) in detecting deep myometrial invasion (MI) and cervical stromal invasion (CSI) in women with endometrial cancer, overall and according to whether they had low- or high-grade disease separately, and to validate published measurement cut-offs and prediction models to identify MI, CSI and high-risk disease (Grade-3 endometrioid or non-endometrioid cancer and/or deep MI and/or CSI).

METHODS

The study comprised 1538 patients with endometrial cancer from the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA)-4 prospective multicenter study, who underwent standardized expert transvaginal ultrasound examination. SA and ultrasound measurements were used to predict deep MI and CSI. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the tumor/uterine anteroposterior (AP) diameter ratio for detecting deep MI and that of the distance from the lower margin of the tumor to the outer cervical os (Dist-OCO) for detecting CSI. We also validated two two-step strategies for the prediction of high-risk cancer; in the first step, biopsy-confirmed Grade-3 endometrioid or mucinous or non-endometrioid cancers were classified as high-risk cancer, while the second step encompassed the application of a mathematical model to classify the remaining tumors. The 'subjective prediction model' included biopsy grade (Grade 1 vs Grade 2) and subjective assessment of deep MI or CSI (presence or absence) as variables, while the 'objective prediction model' included biopsy grade (Grade 1 vs Grade 2) and minimal tumor-free margin. The predictive performance of the two two-step strategies was compared with that of simply classifying patients as high risk if either deep MI or CSI was suspected based on SA or if biopsy showed Grade-3 endometrioid or mucinous or non-endometrioid histotype (i.e. combining SA with biopsy grade). Histological assessment from hysterectomy was considered the reference standard.

RESULTS

In 1275 patients with measurable lesions, the sensitivity and specificity of SA for detecting deep MI was 70% and 80%, respectively, in patients with a Grade-1 or -2 endometrioid or mucinous tumor vs 76% and 64% in patients with a Grade-3 endometrioid or mucinous or a non-endometrioid tumor. The corresponding values for the detection of CSI were 51% and 94% vs 50% and 91%. Tumor AP diameter and tumor/uterine AP diameter ratio showed the best performance for predicting deep MI (area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.76 and 0.77, respectively), and Dist-OCO had the best performance for predicting CSI (AUC, 0.72). The proportion of patients classified correctly as having high-risk cancer was 80% when simply combining SA with biopsy grade vs 80% and 74% when using the subjective and objective two-step strategies, respectively. The subjective and objective models had an AUC of 0.76 and 0.75, respectively, when applied to Grade-1 and -2 endometrioid tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

In the hands of experienced ultrasound examiners, SA was superior to ultrasound measurements for the prediction of deep MI and CSI of endometrial cancer, especially in patients with a Grade-1 or -2 tumor. The mathematical models for the prediction of high-risk cancer performed as expected. The best strategies for predicting high-risk endometrial cancer were combining SA with biopsy grade and the subjective two-step strategy, both having an accuracy of 80%. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Imaging in gynecological disease (16): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of serous cystadenofibromas in adnexa

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of serous cystadenofibromas in the adnexa.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients identified in the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) database, who had a histological diagnosis of serous cystadenofibroma and had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination by an experienced ultrasound examiner, between 1999 and 2012. In the IOTA database, which contains data collected prospectively, the tumors were described using the terms and definitions of the IOTA group. In addition, three authors reviewed, first independently and then together, ultrasound images of serous cystadenofibromas and described them using pattern recognition.

RESULTS

We identified 233 women with a histological diagnosis of serous cystadenofibroma. In the IOTA database, most cystadenofibromas (67.4%; 157/233) were described as containing solid components but 19.3% (45/233) were described as multilocular cysts and 13.3% (31/233) as unilocular cysts. Papillary projections were described in 52.4% (122/233) of the cystadenofibromas. In 79.5% (97/122) of the cysts with papillary projections, color Doppler signals were absent in the papillary projections. Most cystadenofibromas (83.7%; 195/233) manifested no or minimal color Doppler signals. On retrospective analysis of 201 ultrasound images of serous cystadenofibromas, using pattern recognition, 10 major types of ultrasound appearance were identified. The most common pattern was a unilocular solid cyst with one or more papillary projections, but no other solid components (25.9%; 52/201). The second most common pattern was a multilocular solid mass with small solid component(s), but no papillary projections (19.4%; 39/201). The third and fourth most common patterns were multi- or bilocular cyst (16.9%; 34/201) and unilocular cyst (11.9%; 24/201). Using pattern recognition, shadowing was identified in 39.8% (80/201) of the tumors, and microcystic appearance of the papillary projections was observed in 34 (38.6%) of the 88 tumors containing papillary projections.

CONCLUSIONS

The ultrasound features of serous cystadenofibromas vary. The most common pattern is a unilocular solid cyst with one or more papillary projections but no other solid components, with absent color Doppler signals. Most serous cystadenofibromas were poorly vascularized on color Doppler examination and many manifested acoustic shadowing. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Imaging in gynecological disease (15): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of uterine sarcoma

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of uterine sarcomas.

METHODS

This was a retrospective multicenter study. From the databases of 13 ultrasound centers, we identified patients with a histological diagnosis of uterine sarcoma with available ultrasound reports and ultrasound images who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination between 1996 and 2016. As the first step, each author collected information from the original ultrasound reports from his/her own center on predefined ultrasound features of the tumors and by reviewing the ultrasound images to identify information on variables not described in the original report. As the second step, 16 ultrasound examiners reviewed the images electronically in a consensus meeting and described them using predetermined terminology.

RESULTS

We identified 116 patients with leiomyosarcoma, 48 with endometrial stromal sarcoma and 31 with undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma. Median age of the patients was 56 years (range, 26-86 years). Most patients were symptomatic at diagnosis (164/183 (89.6%)), the most frequent presenting symptom being abnormal vaginal bleeding (91/183 (49.7%)). Patients with endometrial stromal sarcoma were younger than those with leiomyosarcoma and undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma (median age, 46 years vs 57 and 60 years, respectively). According to the assessment by the original ultrasound examiners, the median diameter of the largest tumor was 91 mm (range, 7-321 mm). Visible normal myometrium was reported in 149/195 (76.4%) cases, and 80.0% (156/195) of lesions were solitary. Most sarcomas (155/195 (79.5%)) were solid masses (> 80% solid tissue), and most manifested inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue (151/195 (77.4%)); one sarcoma was multilocular without solid components. Cystic areas were described in 87/195 (44.6%) tumors and most cyst cavities had irregular walls (67/87 (77.0%)). Internal shadowing was observed in 42/192 (21.9%) sarcomas and fan-shaped shadowing in 4/192 (2.1%). Moderate or rich vascularization was found on color-Doppler examination in 127/187 (67.9%) cases. In 153/195 (78.5%) sarcomas, the original ultrasound examiner suspected malignancy. Though there were some differences, the results of the first and second steps of the analysis were broadly similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Uterine sarcomas typically appear as solid masses with inhomogeneous echogenicity, sometimes with irregular cystic areas but only very occasionally with fan-shaped shadowing. Most are moderately or very well vascularized. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Differences in ultrasound features of papillations in unilocular-solid adnexal cysts: a retrospective international multicenter study

OBJECTIVES

To identify ultrasound features of papillations or of the cyst wall that can discriminate between benign and malignant unilocular-solid cysts with papillations but no other solid components.

METHODS

From the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) database derived from seven ultrasound centers, we identified patients with an adnexal lesion described at ultrasonography as unilocular-solid with papillations but no other solid components. All patients had undergone transvaginal ultrasound between 1999 and 2007 or 2009 and 2012, by an experienced examiner following the IOTA research protocol. Information on four ultrasound features of papillations had been collected prospectively. Information on a further seven ultrasound features was collected retrospectively from electronic or paper ultrasound images of good quality. The histological diagnosis of the surgically removed adnexal lesion was considered the gold standard.

RESULTS

Of 204 masses included, 131 (64.2%) were benign, 42 (20.6%) were borderline tumors, 30 (14.7%) were primary invasive tumors and one (0.5%) was a metastasis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the following ultrasound features to be associated independently with malignancy: height of the largest papillation, presence of blood flow in papillations, papillation confluence or dissemination, and shadows behind papillations. Shadows decreased the odds of malignancy, while the other features increased them.

CONCLUSION

We have identified ultrasound features that can help to discriminate between benign and malignant unilocular-solid cysts with papillations but no other solid components. Our results need to be confirmed in prospective studies. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ultrasound characteristics of endometrial cancer as defined by International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) consensus nomenclature: prospective multicenter study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the sonographic features of endometrial cancer in relation to tumor stage, grade and histological type, using the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) terminology.

METHODS

This was a prospective multicenter study of 1714 women with biopsy-confirmed endometrial cancer undergoing standardized transvaginal grayscale and Doppler ultrasound examination according to the IETA study protocol, by experienced ultrasound examiners using high-end ultrasound equipment. Clinical and sonographic data were entered into a web-based database. We assessed how strongly sonographic characteristics, according to IETA, were associated with outcome at hysterectomy, i.e. tumor stage, grade and histological type, using univariable logistic regression and the c-statistic.

RESULTS

In total, 1538 women were included in the final analysis. Median age was 65 (range, 27-98) years, median body mass index was 28.4 (range 16-67) kg/m² , 1377 (89.5%) women were postmenopausal and 1296 (84.3%) reported abnormal vaginal bleeding. Grayscale and color Doppler features varied according to grade and stage of tumor. High-risk tumors, compared with low-risk tumors, were less likely to have regular endometrial-myometrial junction (difference of -23%; 95% CI, -27 to -18%), were larger (mean endometrial thickness; difference of +9%; 95% CI, +8 to +11%), and were more likely to have non-uniform echogenicity (difference of +7%; 95% CI, +1 to +13%), a multiple, multifocal vessel pattern (difference of +21%; 95% CI, +16 to +26%) and a moderate or high color score (difference of +22%; 95% CI, +18 to +27%).

CONCLUSION

Grayscale and color Doppler sonographic features are associated with grade and stage of tumor, and differ between high- and low-risk endometrial cancer. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) terminology in women with postmenopausal bleeding and sonographic endometrial thickness ≥ 4.5 mm: agreement and reliability study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate intra- and interrater agreement and reliability with regard to describing ultrasound images of the endometrium using the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) terminology.

METHODS

Four expert and four non-expert raters assessed videoclips of transvaginal ultrasound examinations of the endometrium obtained from 99 women with postmenopausal bleeding and sonographic endometrial thickness ≥ 4.5 mm but without fluid in the uterine cavity. The following features were rated: endometrial echogenicity, endometrial midline, bright edge, endometrial-myometrial junction, color score, vascular pattern, irregularly branching vessels and color splashes. The color content of the endometrial scan was estimated using a visual analog scale graded from 0 to 100. To estimate intrarater agreement and reliability, the same videoclips were assessed twice with a minimum of 2 months' interval. The raters were blinded to their own results and to those of the other raters.

RESULTS

Interrater differences in the described prevalence of most IETA variables were substantial, and some variable categories were observed rarely. Specific agreement was poor for variables with many categories. For binary variables, specific agreement was better for absence than for presence of a category. For variables with more than two outcome categories, specific agreement for expert and non-expert raters was best for not-defined endometrial midline (93% and 96%), regular endometrial-myometrial junction (72% and 70%) and three-layer endometrial pattern (67% and 56%). The grayscale ultrasound variable with the best reliability was uniform vs non-uniform echogenicity (multirater kappa (κ), 0.55 for expert and 0.52 for non-expert raters), and the variables with the lowest reliability were appearance of the endometrial-myometrial junction (κ, 0.25 and 0.16) and the nine-category endometrial echogenicity variable (κ, 0.29 and 0.28). The most reliable color Doppler variable was color score (mean weighted κ, 0.77 and 0.69). Intra- and interrater agreement and reliability were similar for experts and non-experts.

CONCLUSIONS

Inter- and intrarater agreement and reliability when using IETA terminology were limited. This may have implications when assessing the association between a particular ultrasound feature and a specific histological diagnosis, because lack of reproducibility reduces the reliability of the association between a feature and the outcome. Future studies should investigate whether using fewer categories of variable or offering practical training could improve agreement and reliability. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Misoprostol treatment vs expectant management in women with early non-viable pregnancy and vaginal bleeding: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare vaginal misoprostol treatment with expectant management in early non-viable pregnancy with vaginal bleeding with regard to complete evacuation of the uterine cavity within 10 days after randomization.

METHODS

This was a parallel randomized controlled, open-label trial conducted in Skåne University Hospital, Sweden. Patients with anembryonic pregnancy or early fetal demise (crown-rump length ≤ 33 mm) and vaginal bleeding were randomly allocated to either expectant management or treatment with a single dose of 800 μg misoprostol administered vaginally. Patients were evaluated clinically and by ultrasound until complete evacuation of the uterus was achieved (no gestational sac in the uterine cavity and maximum anteroposterior diameter of the intracavitary contents < 15 mm as measured by transvaginal ultrasound on midsagittal view). Follow-up visits were planned at 10, 17, 24 and 31 days. Dilatation and evacuation (D&E) was recommended if miscarriage was not complete within 31 days, but was performed earlier at patient's request, or if there was excessive bleeding as judged clinically. Analysis was by intention to treat. The main outcome measure was number of patients with complete miscarriage without D&E ≤ 10 days.

RESULTS

Ninety-four patients were randomized to misoprostol treatment and 95 to expectant management. After exclusion of three patients and withdrawal of consent by two patients in the expectant management group, 90 women were included in this group. Miscarriage was complete ≤ 10 days in 62/94 (66%) of the patients in the misoprostol group and in 39/90 (43%) of those in the group managed expectantly (risk difference (RD) = 23%; 95% CI, 8-37%). At 31 days, the corresponding figures were 81/94 (86%) and 55/90 (61%) (RD = 25%; 95% CI, 12-38%). Two patients from each group underwent emergency D&E because of excessive bleeding and one of these in each group received blood transfusion. The number of patients undergoing D&E at their own request was higher in the expectantly managed group, 15/90 (17%) vs 3/94 (3%) in the misoprostol group (RD = 14%; 95% CI, 4-23%), as was the number of patients making out-of-protocol visits, 50/90 (56%) vs 27/94 (29%) (RD = 27%; 95% CI, 12-40%). Compared with the expectant management group, more patients in the misoprostol group experienced pain (71/77 (92%) vs 91/91 (100%); RD = 8%; 95% CI, 1-17%) and used painkillers (59/77 (77%) vs 85/91 (93%); RD = 17%; 95% CI, 5-29%). No major side effect was reported in any group.

CONCLUSIONS

In women with early non-viable pregnancy and vaginal bleeding, misoprostol treatment is more effective than is expectant management for complete evacuation of the uterus. Both methods are safe but misoprostol treatment is associated with more pain than is expectant management. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Prospective temporal validation of mathematical models to calculate risk of endometrial malignancy in patients with postmenopausal bleeding

OBJECTIVES

To validate prospectively five mathematical models published in 2007 for calculating the risk of endometrial malignancy in a defined high-risk group of patients with postmenopausal bleeding and sonographic endometrial thickness ≥ 4.5 mm.

METHODS

Of 1012 consecutive patients, 379 fulfilled our inclusion criteria, which were the same as those of the original study in which the models were created (endometrial thickness ≥ 4.5 mm, no fluid in the uterine cavity, detectable Doppler signals in the endometrium). A standardized history was taken, and clinical and transvaginal grayscale and power Doppler ultrasound examinations were performed following the study protocol. All data were collected prospectively and the five models were applied prospectively to the study patients' data to assess their risk of endometrial malignancy. Using the histological diagnosis of the endometrium as gold standard, we calculated the area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC), and sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios when using the same cut-offs as in the original study, for each of the five models.

RESULTS

Ninety-three (25%) patients had malignant endometrium. The performance of the models was similar to that in the original study, with AUCs ranging from 0.86 to 0.90. The model with the best diagnostic performance included endometrial thickness, heterogeneous endometrial echogenicity and areas of densely packed vessels on power Doppler (AUC, 0.90; sensitivity, 81%; specificity, 84% at preselected cut-off). The models were well calibrated.

CONCLUSIONS

On temporal validation, the five models for calculating the risk of endometrial malignancy in a defined high-risk group of patients retained their good diagnostic performance and were well calibrated. The models make it possible to reclassify high-risk patients as having a low or relatively low risk, moderately high risk or very high risk of endometrial cancer, and so can be used for individualized patient management. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Transvaginal ultrasound examination of the endometrium in postmenopausal women without vaginal bleeding

OBJECTIVES

To estimate in gynecologically asymptomatic postmenopausal women with and without hormone replacement therapy (HRT) undergoing transvaginal ultrasound examination the prevalence of: endometrial thickness ≥ 5.0 mm, intrauterine focal lesions if endometrial thickness is ≥ 5.0 mm, and premalignant and malignant endometrial changes if thickness is ≥ 5.0 mm and intrauterine focal lesions are present.

METHODS

Invitation letters were sent to 2951 potentially eligible women recruited from a Swedish population registry; 757 replied, 514 were considered eligible (i.e. were gynecologically asymptomatic postmenopausal women aged 52-62 years with no current or previous gynecological problems) and 510 had complete information and were included. The women were examined using transvaginal ultrasound (5-9-MHz transducer). If endometrial thickness was ≥ 5.0 mm, saline contrast sonohysterography (SCSH) was attempted. The number, size and surface contour of intracavitary focal lesions were recorded. Women with focal lesions were offered hysteroscopic resection of the lesions. Gold standard was histology of the surgical specimen.

RESULTS

The median time in menopause was 5 (range, 1-17) years. There were no substantial differences in ultrasound findings between women with HRT and those without. Sixty-two (12% (95% CI, 9-15%)) women had an endometrial thickness ≥ 5.0 mm. SCSH was attempted in 54 of these women, which was successful in 48 and suboptimal in one. Thirty-three (67%) of the 49 women with successful or suboptimal SCSH and one woman with spontaneous fluid in the uterine cavity had intracavitary focal lesions. Twenty-nine of these women with focal lesions underwent hysteroscopic resection of the lesion(s). Two cases of endometrial complex hyperplasia with atypia but no malignancy were found. Uterine perforation with bowel damage occurred in two women who underwent hysteroscopic surgery.

CONCLUSION

About 10% of gynecologically asymptomatic postmenopausal women have a sonographic endometrial thickness ≥ 5.0 mm. Our results support conservative management of such women. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Transvaginal ultrasound assessment of myometrial and cervical stromal invasion in women with endometrial cancer: interobserver reproducibility among ultrasound experts and gynecologists

OBJECTIVES

To assess interobserver reproducibility among ultrasound experts and gynecologists in the prediction by transvaginal ultrasound of deep myometrial and cervical stromal invasion in women with endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Sonographic videoclips of the uterine corpus and cervix of 53 women with endometrial cancer, examined preoperatively by the same ultrasound expert, were integrated into a digitalized survey. Nine ultrasound experts and nine gynecologists evaluated presence or absence of deep myometrial and cervical stromal invasion. Histopathology from hysterectomy specimens was used as the gold standard.

RESULTS

Compared with gynecologists, ultrasound experts showed higher sensitivity, specificity and agreement with histopathology in the assessment of cervical stromal invasion (42% (95% CI, 31-53%) vs 57% (95% CI, 45-68%), P < 0.01; 83% (95% CI, 78-86%) vs 87% (95% CI, 83-90%), P = 0.02; and kappa, 0.45 (95% CI, 0.40-0.49) vs 0.58 (95% CI, 0.53-0.62), P < 0.001, respectively) but not of deep myometrial invasion (73% (95% CI, 66-79%) vs 73% (95% CI, 66-79%), P = 1.0; 70% (95% CI, 65-75%) vs 69% (95% CI, 63-74%), P = 0.68; and kappa, 0.48 (95% CI, 0.44-0.53) vs 0.52 (95% CI, 0.48-0.57), P = 0.11, respectively). Though interobserver reproducibility (in the context of test proportions 'good' and 'very good', according to kappa) regarding deep myometrial invasion did not differ between the groups (experts, 34% vs gynecologists, 22%, P = 0.13), ultrasound experts assessed cervical stromal invasion with significantly greater interobserver reproducibility than did gynecologists (53% vs 14%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative ultrasound assessment of deep myometrial and cervical stromal invasion in endometrial cancer is best performed by ultrasound experts, as, compared with gynecologists, they showed a greater degree of agreement with histopathology and greater interobserver reproducibility in the assessment of cervical stromal invasion.

Appearance of the endometrium at saline contrast sonohysterography in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle: a prospective observational study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the ultrasonographic morphology of the endometrium at saline contrast sonohysterography (SCSH) performed in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in women 20-38 years of age with regular menstrual cycles.

METHODS

The study included 26 women (median age 33 (range, 20-38) years) with regular menstrual cycles referred for hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) as part of infertility work-up (n = 19) or before donor insemination in lesbian couples (n = 7). SCSH and HyCoSy were performed 6-10 days after a positive luteinizing hormone (LH) urinary self-test. Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound volumes of the uterus were saved with and without saline in the uterine cavity. The results presented are based on offline analysis of the 3D volumes.

RESULTS

Median endometrial thickness was 10.4 (range, 6.0-17.3) mm. Twelve (46%; 95% CI, 27-65%) of the 26 women had endometrial folds at SCSH. The number of folds varied between 1 and 6 (median 3). Endometrial thickness was similar in women with and without endometrial folds (median endometrial thickness 10.7 (range, 6.0-17.3) mm vs 10.1 (range, 6.1-14.4) mm; P = 0.257), and the amount of saline in the uterine cavity did not differ between the two groups (median 8.6 (range, 5.2-12.9) mm vs 7.1 (range, 3.2-13.3) mm; P = 0.527). In two women with endometrial folds at two-dimensional (2D) or 3D-SCSH, focal endometrial pathology (polyp) was suspected, but hysteroscopically resected endometrium showed normal histology.

CONCLUSIONS

One should avoid performing SCSH in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, not only because there may be a fertilized ovum in the genital tract but also because endometrial folds are common in this phase and may lead to overdiagnosis of focal endometrial pathology, such as polyps. If, for some reason, SCSH is performed in the luteal phase and the results are equivocal, the procedure should be repeated in the follicular phase.

Prevalence of extrauterine pelvic lesions on transvaginal ultrasound in asymptomatic 20-39-year-old women

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence of extrauterine pelvic lesions on transvaginal ultrasound examination of gynecologically asymptomatic women of fertile age, and to compare this prevalence between women with spontaneous menstrual cycles, those using the combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill and those using a gestagen intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD).

METHODS

Six hundred and forty-four gynecologically asymptomatic 20-39-year-old Caucasian women with no current or previous gynecological problems, who were recruited from a Swedish population registry, were examined with transvaginal ultrasound on cycle day 4-8. Our definition of ovarian cyst was a unilocular cyst with anechoic cyst contents ≥ 35 mm in mean diameter, or any other type of intraovarian lesion. The prevalence of extrauterine pelvic lesions was compared between women not using hormonal contraception and those using COC or a gestagen IUD.

RESULTS

Ovarian lesions were found in 24 (3.7%) women. One woman had bilateral ovarian lesions. An ultrasound diagnosis of paraovarian cyst was made in 41 (6.4%) women, of peritoneal cyst in four (0.6%) women and of hydrosalpinx in one (0.2%) woman. All incidentally detected lesions had a mean diameter of ≤ 5 cm. One 17-mm intraovarian lesion was suspicious for malignancy, and histology confirmed a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor. The ultrasound diagnoses in the remaining 23 women were endometrioma (n = 10 (1.6%)), dermoid cyst (n = 5 (0.8%)), cystadenofibroma (n = 1 (0.2%)), mature teratoma (n = 1 (0.2%)) and functional cyst, i.e. a cyst that resolved within 3-5 months (n = 6 (0.9%)). Four women with an ultrasound diagnosis of a benign lesion were operated on, and the ultrasound diagnoses of endometrioma (n = 2), dermoid cyst (n = 1) and mature teratoma (n = 1) were confirmed histologically. The prevalence of persisting ovarian lesions was highest in women with spontaneous menstrual cycles (4.4% vs 0.9% and 0% in women using COC and gestagen IUD, respectively; P = 0.025), but age was the only factor independently associated with persisting ovarian masses, the prevalence increasing with age.

CONCLUSIONS

Benign ovarian lesions are found in about 1 in 25 gynecologically asymptomatic women aged 20-39 years with no history of gynecological disease. To be able to offer optimal management of such masses, their natural history needs to be elucidated in a large prospective observational study.

B-flow ultrasound facilitates visualization of contrast medium during hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography

OBJECTIVE

To assess if B-flow ultrasound improves visualization of flow of contrast medium in the Fallopian tubes during hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) compared with grayscale ultrasound.

METHODS

This prospective observational study included 160 women referred for HyCoSy as part of infertility work-up between January 2011 and September 2012. In each woman, at the same session, HyCoSy was performed first using saline with air and then using Sonovue®, and for each contrast medium, grayscale ultrasound was first used and then B-flow ultrasound was used. Flow of contrast was observed in three parts of each tube: intramural, middle and distal.

RESULTS

In 129 (81%) women, flow of Sonovue was observed in the intramural part of both tubes and in the pouch of Douglas when using grayscale ultrasound. In these women, flow of Sonovue was seen in the middle part of 70% of the 258 tubes when using grayscale ultrasound and in 93% when using B-flow ultrasound; and in the distal part in 81% when using grayscale ultrasound and in 98% when using B-flow ultrasound. When using air and saline, flow was seen in the intramural part of 90% and 93% of the tubes, in the middle part in 54% and 72%, and in the distal part in 66% and 90%, using grayscale ultrasound and B-flow ultrasound, respectively.

CONCLUSION

B-flow ultrasound facilitates detection of flow of contrast in the middle and distal parts of the tubes at HyCoSy, especially when a mixture of saline and air is used as contrast medium.

Intra- and interobserver agreement with regard to describing adnexal masses using International Ovarian Tumor Analysis terminology: reproducibility study involving seven observers

OBJECTIVES

To estimate intraobserver repeatability and interobserver agreement in assessing the presence of papillary projections in adnexal masses and in classifying adnexal masses using the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis terminology for ultrasound examiners with different levels of experience. We also aimed to identify ultrasound findings that cause confusion and might be interpreted differently by different observers, and to determine if repeatability and agreement change after consensus has been reached on how to interpret 'problematic' ultrasound images.

METHODS

Digital clips (two to eight clips per adnexal mass) with gray-scale and color/power Doppler information of 83 adnexal masses in 80 patients were evaluated independently four times, twice before and twice after a consensus meeting, by four experienced and three less experienced ultrasound observers. The variables analyzed were tumor type (unilocular, unilocular solid, multilocular, multilocular solid, solid) and presence of papillary projections. Intraobserver repeatability was evaluated for each observer (percentage agreement, Cohen's kappa). Interobserver agreement was estimated for all seven observers (percentage agreement, Fleiss kappa, Cohen's kappa).

RESULTS

There was uncertainty about how to define a solid component and a papillary projection, but consensus was reached at the consensus meeting. Interobserver agreement for tumor type was good both before and after the consensus meeting, with no clear improvement after the meeting, mean percentage agreement being 76.0% (Fleiss kappa, 0.695) before the meeting and 75.4% (Fleiss kappa, 0.682) after the meeting. Interobserver agreement with regard to papillary projections was moderate both before and after the consensus meeting, with no clear improvement after the meeting, mean percentage agreement being 86.6% (Fleiss kappa, 0.536) before the meeting and 82.7% (Fleiss kappa, 0.487) after it. There was substantial variability in pairwise agreement for papillary projections (Cohen's kappa, 0.148-0.787). Intraobserver repeatability with regard to tumor type was very good and similar before and after the consensus meeting (agreement 87-95%, kappa, 0.83-0.94). With regard to papillary projections intraobserver repeatability was good or very good both before and after the consensus meeting (agreement 88-100%, kappa, 0.64-1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite uncertainty about how to define solid components, interobserver agreement was good for tumor type. The interobserver agreement for papillary projection was moderate but very variable between observer pairs. The term 'papillary projection' might need a more precise definition. The consensus meeting did not change inter- or intraobserver agreement.

Intra- and interobserver reproducibility of assessment of Doppler ultrasound findings in adnexal masses

OBJECTIVES

To estimate intra- and interobserver reproducibility and reliability of assessment of the color content in adnexal masses at color/power Doppler ultrasound examination for observers with different levels of experience, and to determine if they change after a consensus meeting.

METHODS

Digital clips with color/power Doppler information on 103 adnexal masses were evaluated independently four times, twice before and twice after a consensus meeting, by four experienced and three less experienced ultrasound examiners. The color content of the adnexal mass was estimated using the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis color score and a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS score). Intraobserver repeatability was estimated for each observer. Interobserver agreement was estimated for the four most experienced observers (six pairs), for the three less experienced observers (three pairs), and for four other pairs of observers, each pair consisting of one of the experienced and one of the less-experienced observers.

RESULTS

Intra- and interobserver agreement for the color score was moderate to very good, percentage agreement ranging from 48 to 82.5% (kappa, 0.52-0.82) before and from 59 to 90% (kappa, 0.60-0.88) after the consensus meeting. For seven of 13 pairs of observers, interobserver agreement improved after the consensus meeting. Intraobserver intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values for the VAS score ranged from 0.80 to 0.92 before and from 0.75 to 0.94 after the consensus meeting, but limits of agreement were wide (± 20-35 mm). For six of the seven observers the ICC values were higher after the consensus meeting than before. Interobserver ICC values for the VAS score ranged from 0.77 to 0.88 before and from 0.77 to 0.91 after the consensus meeting, but limits of agreement were wide (± 30-40 mm). For 10 of 13 pairs of observers the ICC values improved after the consensus meeting.

CONCLUSIONS

Intra- and interobserver agreement for the color score was good, especially after the consensus meeting, but there is room for improvement. VAS score results varied substantially within and between observers both before and after the consensus meeting. General consensus needs to be reached about how to interpret color/power Doppler ultrasound findings in adnexal masses.

Intra- and interobserver agreement when describing adnexal masses using the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis terms and definitions: a study on three-dimensional ultrasound volumes

OBJECTIVES

To estimate intraobserver repeatability and interobserver agreement in: (1) describing adnexal masses using the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) terms and definitions; (2) the risk of malignancy calculated using IOTA logistic regression model 1 (LR1) and model 2 (LR2); and (3) the diagnosis made on the basis of subjective assessment of ultrasound images.

METHODS

One-hundred and three adnexal masses were examined by transvaginal gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound. Three-dimensional ultrasound volumes of the mass were saved. After 12-18 months the volumes were analyzed twice, 1-6 months apart, by each of two independent experienced sonologists who used the IOTA terms and definitions to describe the masses. The risk of malignancy was calculated using LR1 and LR2. The sonologists also classified the masses as benign or malignant using subjective assessment.

RESULTS

Eighty-four masses were benign, eight were borderline and 11 were invasively malignant. There was substantial variability within and between observers in the results of measurements included in LR1 and LR2 and some variability also when assessing categorical variables included in the models (agreement = 51-100% and kappa = 0.42-1.00). This resulted in substantial variability in the calculated risk of malignancy, the limits of agreement indicating that the calculated risk of malignancy could vary by a factor of 5-20 within and between observers. The reliability of the calculated risk of malignancy was moderate (LR1) or poor (LR2) when the calculated risk of malignancy was > 10% (intraclass correlation coefficients varied from 0.21 to 0.73). Interobserver agreement when classifying tumors as benign or malignant using the predetermined risk of malignancy cut-off of 10% was fair to good (agreement = 85% and kappa = 0.61 for LR1; agreement = 81% and kappa = 0.52 for LR2). Intra- and interobserver agreements for subjective assessment were 96%, 96% and 96% with kappa values of 0.89, 0.87 and 0.88, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Intra- and interobserver agreement in classifying tumors as benign or malignant using the risk of malignancy cut-off of 10% for LR1 and LR2 was fair or good, whilst the reproducibility of subjective assessment was excellent. The reliability of calculated risks > 10% was poor, and calculated risk > 10% cannot be used to discriminate between individuals at different risk. These results cannot be extrapolated to real-time ultrasound examinations.

Prediction of endometrial malignancy in women with postmenopausal bleeding and sonographic endometrial thickness ≥ 4.5 mm

OBJECTIVE

To build mathematical models for evaluating the individual risk of endometrial malignancy in women with postmenopausal bleeding and sonographic endometrial thickness ≥ 4.5 mm using clinical data, sonographic endometrial thickness and power Doppler ultrasound findings.

METHODS

Of 729 consecutive patients with postmenopausal bleeding, 261 with sonographic endometrial thickness ≥ 4.5 mm and no fluid in the uterine cavity were included. They underwent transvaginal two-dimensional gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound examination of the endometrium. The ultrasound image showing the most vascularized section through the endometrium as assessed by power Doppler was frozen, the endometrium was outlined and the percentage vascularized area (vascularity index) was calculated using computer software. The ultrasound examiner also estimated the color content of the endometrial scan on a visual analog scale (VAS) graded from 0 to 100 (VAS score). A structured history was taken to collect clinical information. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to create mathematical models to predict endometrial malignancy.

RESULTS

There were 63 (24%) malignant and 198 (76%) benign endometria. Women with a malignant endometrium were older (median age 74 vs. 65 years; P = 0.0005) and fewer used hormone replacement therapy and warfarin. Women with a malignant endometrium had a thicker endometrium (median thickness 20.8 vs. 10.2 mm; P = 0.0005) and higher values for vascularity index and VAS score. When using only clinical data to build a model for estimating the risk of endometrial malignancy, a model including the variables age, use of warfarin and use of hormone replacement therapy had the largest area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC), with a value of 0.74 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67-0.81). A model including age, use of warfarin and endometrial thickness had an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76-0.87), and one including age, use of hormone replacement therapy, endometrial thickness and vascularity index had an AUC of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.87-0.95). Using a risk cut-off of 11%, the latter model had sensitivity 90%, specificity 71%, positive likelihood ratio 3.14 and negative likelihood ratio 0.13.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic performance of models predicting endometrial cancer increases substantially when sonographic endometrial thickness and power Doppler information are added to clinical variables. The models are likely to be clinically useful but need to be prospectively validated.

Three-dimensional ultrasound imaging for discrimination between benign and malignant endometrium in women with postmenopausal bleeding and sonographic endometrial thickness of at least 4.5 mm

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether endometrial volume or power Doppler indices as measured by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging can discriminate between benign and malignant endometrium, to compare their diagnostic performance with that of endometrial thickness measurement using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound examination, and to determine whether power Doppler indices add any diagnostic information to endometrial thickness or volume.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients with postmenopausal bleeding and endometrial thickness > or = 4.5 mm underwent transvaginal 2D gray-scale and 3D power Doppler ultrasound examination of the corpus uteri. The endometrial volume was calculated, along with the vascularization index (VI), flow index and vascularization flow index (VFI) in the endometrium and in a 2-mm 'shell' surrounding the endometrium. The 'gold standard' was the histological diagnosis of the endometrium obtained by hysteroscopic resection of focal lesions, dilatation and curettage or hysterectomy. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves were drawn for all measurements to evaluate their ability to distinguish between benign and malignant endometrium. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to create mathematical models to estimate the risk of endometrial malignancy.

RESULTS

There were 49 benign and 13 malignant endometria. Endometrial thickness and volume were significantly larger in malignant than in benign endometria, and flow indices in the endometrium and endometrial shell were significantly higher. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of endometrial thickness was 0.82, that of endometrial volume 0.78, and that of the two best power Doppler variables (VI and VFI in the endometrium) 0.82 and 0.82. The best logistic regression model for predicting malignancy contained the variables endometrial thickness (odds ratio 1.2; 95% CI, 1.04-1.30; P = 0.004) and VI in the endometrial 'shell' (odds ratio 1.1; 95% CI, 1.02-1.23; P = 0.01). Its AUC was 0.86. Using its mathematically optimal risk cut-off value (0.22), the model correctly classified seven more benign cases but two fewer malignant cases than the best endometrial thickness cut-off (11.8 mm). Models containing endometrial volume and flow indices performed less well than did endometrial thickness alone (AUC, 0.79 vs. 0.82).

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic performance for discrimination between benign and malignant endometrium of 3D ultrasound imaging was not superior to that of endometrial thickness as measured by 2D ultrasound examination, and 3D power Doppler imaging added little to endometrial thickness or volume.

Two- and three-dimensional saline contrast sonohysterography: interobserver agreement, agreement with hysteroscopy and diagnosis of endometrial malignancy

OBJECTIVES

The aims of our study were to compare the interobserver reproducibility of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) saline contrast sonohysterography (SCSH) and agreement of these techniques with hysteroscopy, and to determine which SCSH findings best discriminate between benign and malignant endometrium.

METHODS

Consecutive women with postmenopausal bleeding and endometrial thickness > or = 4.5 mm underwent 2D and 3D SCSH; the results were videotaped and stored electronically, respectively, for analysis by two independent experienced examiners who were blinded to each other's results. A histological diagnosis was obtained by dilatation and curettage, hysteroscopic resection or hysterectomy. The hysteroscopist was blinded to the ultrasound results and used the same standardized research protocol to describe the uterine cavity as the ultrasound examiners.

RESULTS

Of 170 consecutive women with postmenopausal bleeding and endometrial thickness > or = 4.5 mm, 84 (14 with endometrial malignancy) fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Hysteroscopy findings in 54 women (one with endometrial malignancy) were used to determine agreement with SCSH. Interobserver agreement of 2D and 3D SCSH was 95% (80/84) vs. 89% (75/84) with regard to presence of focal lesions, 89% (75/84) vs. 88% (74/84) for presence of focal lesions with irregular surface, 67% (54/81) vs. 63% (51/81) for number of focal lesions, and 77% (46/60) vs. 70% (42/60) for location of focal lesions. The agreement between 2D and 3D SCSH and hysteroscopy was 94% (51/54) vs. 93% (50/54) with regard to presence of focal lesions, 74% (40/54) vs. 76% (41/54) for presence of focal lesions with irregular surface, 63% (34/54) vs. 54% (29/54) for number of focal lesions, and 66% (29/44) vs. 64% (28/44) for location of focal lesions. The SCSH finding that best discriminated between benign and malignant endometrium was the presence of focal lesion(s) with irregular surface (for 2D SCSH: sensitivity 71%, specificity 97%, positive likelihood ratio 25, negative likelihood ratio 0.3; for 3D SCSH: sensitivity 43%, specificity 97%, positive likelihood ratio 15, negative likelihood ratio 0.6).

CONCLUSIONS

3D SCSH does not seem to be superior to 2D SCSH when performed by experienced ultrasound examiners either with regard to reproducibility, agreement with hysteroscopy findings or diagnosis of endometrial malignancy. The presence of focal lesion(s) with irregular surface is the best SCSH variable for discrimination between benign and malignant endometrium.

Contribution of morphological assessment of the vessel tree by three-dimensional ultrasound to a correct diagnosis of malignancy in ovarian masses

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether subjective evaluation of the morphology of the vessel tree of ovarian tumors, as depicted by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound, can discriminate between benign and malignant ovarian tumors, and whether it improves characterization compared with using gray-scale ultrasound imaging alone.

METHODS

A consecutive series of 104 women scheduled for surgical removal of an ovarian mass were examined with transvaginal two-dimensional (2D) gray-scale and 3D power Doppler ultrasound. Predetermined vessel characteristics, e.g. density of vessels, branching, caliber changes and tortuosity, were evaluated in 360 degrees rotating 3D images of the vessel tree of the tumor. Ultrasound results were compared with those of the histology of the surgical specimens. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used.

RESULTS

There were 77 benign tumors, six borderline tumors and 21 invasive malignancies. All vascular features differed significantly between benign and malignant tumors. The areas under their receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves (AUCs) were in the range 0.61-0.83. The AUC of a logistic regression model containing three gray-scale ultrasound variables was 0.98. This model correctly classified all malignancies, with a false-positive rate of 10% (8/77). Adding branching of vessels in the whole tumor to the gray-scale model yielded an AUC of 0.99 and resulted in all malignancies and an additional four benign tumors being correctly classified.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjective evaluation of the morphology of the vessel tree, as depicted by 3D power Doppler ultrasound, can be used to discriminate between benign and malignant ovarian tumors, but adds little to gray-scale ultrasound imaging in an ordinary population of tumors.

Ultrasound assessment of endometrial morphology and vascularity to predict endometrial malignancy in women with postmenopausal bleeding and sonographic endometrial thickness >or= 4.5 mm

OBJECTIVES

To determine which endometrial morphology characteristics as assessed by gray-scale ultrasound and which endometrial vessel characteristics as assessed by power Doppler ultrasound are useful for discriminating between benign and malignant endometrium in women with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) and sonographic endometrial thickness >or= 4.5 mm and to develop logistic regression models to calculate the individual risk of endometrial malignancy in women with PMB, endometrial thickness >or= 4.5 mm, good visibility of the endometrium and detectable Doppler signals in the endometrium.

METHODS

Of 223 consecutive patients with PMB and sonographic endometrial thickness >or= 4.5 mm, 120 fulfilled our inclusion criteria. They underwent transvaginal gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound examination, which was videotaped for later analysis by two examiners with more than 15 years' experience in gynecological ultrasonography. They independently assessed endometrial morphology and vascularity using predetermined criteria. Their agreed-upon description was compared with the histological diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. The best diagnostic test was defined as the one with the largest area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Thirty (25%) endometria were malignant. Inter-observer agreement for the description of endometrial morphology and vascularity was moderate to good (Kappa 0.49-0.78). The best ultrasound variables to predict malignancy were heterogeneous endometrial echogenicity (AUC 0.83), endometrial thickness (AUC 0.80), and irregular branching of endometrial blood vessels (AUC 0.77). A logistic regression model including endometrial thickness and heterogeneous endometrial echogenicity had an AUC of 0.91. Its mathematically best risk cut-off yielded a positive likelihood ratio of 4.4, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.1. Adding Doppler information to the model improved diagnostic performance marginally (AUC 0.92).

CONCLUSIONS

In selected high-risk women with PMB and an endometrial thickness of >or= 4.5 mm, calculation of the individual risk of endometrial malignancy using regression models including gray-scale and Doppler characteristics can be used to tailor management. These models would need to be tested prospectively before introduction into clinical practice.

Does three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound help in discrimination between benign and malignant ovarian masses?

OBJECTIVES

To determine if tumor vascularity as assessed by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound can be used to discriminate between benign and malignant ovarian tumors, if adding 3D power Doppler ultrasound to gray-scale imaging improves differentiation between benignity and malignancy, and if 3D power Doppler ultrasound adds more to gray-scale ultrasound than does two-dimensional (2D) power Doppler ultrasound.

METHODS

One hundred and six women scheduled for surgery because of an ovarian mass were examined with transvaginal gray-scale ultrasound and 2D and 3D power Doppler ultrasound. The color content of the tumor scan was rated subjectively by the ultrasound examiner on a visual analog scale. Vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) were calculated in the whole tumor and in a 5-cm(3) sample taken from the most vascularized area of the tumor. Logistic regression analysis was used to build models to predict malignancy.

RESULTS

There were 79 benign tumors, six borderline tumors and 21 invasive malignancies. A logistic regression model including only gray-scale ultrasound variables (the size of the largest solid component, wall irregularity, and lesion size) was built to predict malignancy. It had an area under the receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve of 0.98, sensitivity of 100%, false positive rate of 10%, and positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 10 when using the mathematically best cut-off value for risk of malignancy (0.12). The diagnostic performance of the 3D flow index with the best diagnostic performance, i.e. VI in a 5-cm(3) sample, was superior to that of the color content of the tumor scan (area under ROC curve 0.92 vs. 0.80, sensitivity 93% vs. 78%, false positive rate 16% vs. 27% using the mathematically best cut-off value). Adding the color content of the tumor scan or FI in a 5-cm(3) sample to the logistic regression model including the three gray-scale variables described above improved diagnostic performance only marginally, an additional two tumors being correctly classified.

CONCLUSIONS

Even though 2D and 3D power Doppler ultrasound can be used to discriminate between benign and malignant ovarian tumors, their use adds little to a correct diagnosis of malignancy in an ordinary population of ovarian tumors. Objective quantitation of the color content of the tumor scan using 3D power Doppler ultrasound does not seem to add more to gray-scale imaging than does subjective quantitation by the ultrasound examiner using 2D power Doppler ultrasound.

Reference data representative of normal findings at three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound examination of the cervix from 17 to 41 gestational weeks

OBJECTIVES

To develop normal reference ranges for cervical volume and vascular indices using three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasonography from 17 to 41 gestational weeks.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 352 nulliparous and 291 parous women who delivered at term and underwent transvaginal 3D power Doppler ultrasound examination of the cervix once at 17 to 41 weeks' gestation. We examined approximately 25 women in each gestational week. Cervical volume, vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) were calculated.

RESULTS

There was no change in cervical volume between 17 and 40 weeks' gestation. At 41 weeks cervical volume was slightly smaller than it was at 17-40 weeks (P=0.03 for nulliparous women and P=0.08 for parous women). The cervical volume was larger in parous than it was in nulliparous women (median 38 cm3 vs. 32 cm3 at 17-40 weeks, P<0.0001; median 31 cm3 vs. 22 cm3 at 41 gestational weeks, P=0.288). FI did not differ between nulliparous and parous women and remained unchanged between 17 and 41 weeks' gestation (median 30.6, range 21.2-55.2). VI and VFI did not change consistently from 17 to 41 weeks, but the values were higher in parous than they were in nulliparous women at 17-30 weeks (median VI 5.3% vs. 3.1%, P<0.0001; median VFI 1.6 vs. 0.9, P<0.0001). At 31-41 gestational weeks the median VI for all women irrespective of parity was 4.9% and the median VFI was 1.4.

CONCLUSION

Reference values for cervical volume and blood flow indices as assessed by 3D power Doppler ultrasonography have been established for the second half of pregnancy. These lay the basis for studies of pathological conditions.

Bishop score and ultrasound assessment of the cervix for prediction of time to onset of labor and time to delivery in prolonged pregnancy

OBJECTIVES

To determine the ability of Bishop score and sonographic cervical length to predict time to spontaneous onset of labor and time to delivery in prolonged pregnancy.

METHODS

Ninety-seven women underwent transvaginal ultrasound examination and palpation of the cervix at 291-296 days' gestation according to ultrasound fetometry at 12-20 weeks' gestation. Sonographic cervical length and Bishop score were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine which variables were independent predictors of the onset of labor/delivery < or = 24 h, < or = 48 h, and < or = 96 h. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves were drawn to assess diagnostic performance.

RESULTS

In nulliparous women (n = 45), both Bishop score and sonographic cervical length predicted the onset of labor/delivery < or = 24 h and < or = 48 h (area under ROC curve for the onset of labor < or = 24 h 0.79 vs. 0.80, P = 0.94; for delivery < or = 24 h 0.81 vs. 0.85, P = 0.64; for the onset of labor < or = 48 h 0.73 vs. 0.74, P = 0.90; for delivery < or = 48 h 0.77 vs. 0.71, P = 0.50). Only Bishop score discriminated between nulliparous women who went into labor/delivered < or = 96 h or > 96 h. A logistic regression model including Bishop score and cervical length was superior to Bishop score alone in predicting delivery < or = 24 h (area under ROC curve 0.93 vs. 0.81, P = 0.03) and superior to Bishop score alone and cervical length alone in predicting the onset of labor < or = 24 h (area under ROC curve 0.90 vs. 0.79, P = 0.06; and 0.90 vs. 0.80, P = 0.06). In parous women (n = 52), Bishop score and sonographic cervical length predicted the onset of labor/delivery < or = 24 h (area under ROC curve for the onset of labor 0.75 vs. 0.69, P = 0.49; for delivery 0.74 vs. 0.70, P = 0.62), but only Bishop score discriminated between women who went into labor/delivered < or = 48 h and > 48 h. Three parous women had not gone into labor and six had not given birth at 96 h. In parous women logistic regression models including both Bishop score and cervical length did not substantially improve prediction of the time to onset of labor/delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

In prolonged pregnancy Bishop score and sonographic cervical length have a similar ability to predict the time to the onset of labor and delivery. In nulliparous women the use of logistic regression models including Bishop score and cervical length is likely to offer better prediction of the onset of labor/delivery < or = 24 h than the use of the Bishop score alone.

Three-dimensional ultrasound assessment of the cervix for predicting time to spontaneous onset of labor and time to delivery in prolonged pregnancy

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound including power Doppler examination of the cervix is useful for predicting time to spontaneous onset of labor or time to delivery in prolonged pregnancy.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted in 60 women who went into spontaneous labor. All underwent transvaginal 3D power Doppler ultrasound examination of the cervix immediately before a prolonged-pregnancy check-up at > or = 41 + 5 gestational weeks. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine which of the following variables predicted spontaneous onset of labor > 24 h and > 48 h and vaginal delivery > 48 h and > 60 h: length, anteroposterior (AP) diameter and width of the cervix and of any cervical funneling; cervical volume (cm3); vascularization index (VI); flow index (FI); vascularization flow index (VFI); parity; and Bishop score. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out both with and without Bishop score as a predictive variable. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to describe the diagnostic performance of the tests.

RESULTS

The areas under the ROC curves for Bishop score, cervical length, and logistic regression models did not differ significantly (areas ranging from 0.72 to 0.82). If Bishop score was not included in the logistic regression model, cervical length, VI and FI independently predicted delivery > 48 h, the likelihood increasing with increasing cervical length, decreasing VI and increasing FI.

CONCLUSIONS

In prolonged pregnancy cervical vascularization as estimated by 3D power Doppler ultrasound is related to time to delivery > 48 h, but the likelihood of delivery > 48 h can be predicted equally well using Bishop score alone or sonographic cervical length alone.

Assessment of changes in endometrial and subendometrial volume and vascularity during the normal menstrual cycle using three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound

OBJECTIVES

To describe changes in endometrial and subendometrial volume and vascularity during the normal menstrual cycle using three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasonography.

METHODS

Fourteen healthy volunteers, 24-44 years old with regular menstrual cycles, underwent serial transvaginal 3D power Doppler ultrasound examinations of the uterus on cycle day 2, 3 or 4, then daily from cycle day 9 until follicular rupture and 1, 2, 5, 7 and 12 days after follicular rupture. Endometrial and subendometrial volume (cm3), vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) were calculated using the VOCAL (Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis) software.

RESULTS

Endometrial and subendometrial vascularity indices increased throughout the follicular phase, decreased to a nadir 2 days after follicular rupture and then increased again during the luteal phase. Endometrial and subendometrial volume increased rapidly during the follicular phase and then remained almost unchanged during the luteal phase.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial changes occur in endometrial volume and vascularization during the normal menstrual cycle. There is the potential for 3D power Doppler ultrasonography to become a useful tool for assessing pathological changes associated with female subfertility and abnormal uterine bleeding.

Reference data representative of normal findings at two-dimensional and three-dimensional gray-scale ultrasound examination of the cervix from 17 to 41 weeks' gestation

OBJECTIVES

To create reference values representative of normal findings on two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) examination of the cervix from 17 to 41 weeks' gestation and to determine the agreement between cervical measurements taken by 2D and 3D TVS.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study covering 17 to 41 weeks in 419 nulliparous and 360 parous women who delivered at term and who underwent 2D and 3D TVS examination of the uterine cervix. We examined approximately 25 women in each gestational week. The length, anteroposterior (AP) diameter and width of the cervix (and of any cervical funnel) and AP diameter of the cervical canal were measured. Results were plotted against gestational age. The agreement between 2D and 3D ultrasound results was expressed as the mean (+/- 2 SDs) difference between the results of the two methods and as the interclass correlation coefficient (inter-CC).

RESULTS

There was excellent agreement between measurements taken by 2D and 3D ultrasound (inter-CC values, 0.80-0.98) but measurements of cervical length taken using 3D ultrasound were greater than measurements taken by 2D ultrasound (mean difference, -0.04 +/- 0.36 cm). Cervical length did not change substantially between 17 and 32 gestational weeks but decreased progressively thereafter. Cervical length was similar in nulliparous and parous women at 17-32 weeks, but from 33 weeks the cervix tended to be longer in parous women. In nulliparae, cervical length decreased from a median of 3.8 (range, 0.7-6.1) cm at 17-32 weeks to 2.3 (range, 0.4-6.0) cm at 33-40 weeks and to 0.7 (range, 0.2-1.5) cm at 41 weeks. In parous women, the corresponding figures were 3.9 (range, 1.0-6.1) cm, 3.0 (range, 0.4-5.7) cm and 0.8 (range, 0.4-3.4) cm (results obtained by 3D ultrasound). Cervical AP diameter and width did not differ between nulliparous and parous women. Median AP diameter increased from 3.0 (range, 2.0-4.6) cm at 17-30 weeks to 3.5 (range, 1.8-5.5) cm at 31-40 weeks and to 4.0 (range, 2.8-5.9) cm at 41 weeks. Cervical width was 3.7 (range, 2.3-6.0) cm at 17-30 weeks and 4.5 (range, 2.3-6.1) cm at 31-41 weeks. The percentage of women with funneling increased from 4% (3/84) at 17-18 weeks to 63% (12/19) at 41 weeks and the percentage of women with an open cervical canal increased from 19% (15/84) to 72% (13/19). Funneling and opening of the cervical canal were equally common in nulliparous and parous women.

CONCLUSIONS

Reference data provide the basis for studies of pathological conditions. Common reference values for nulliparous and parous women can be used for cervical AP diameter and width from 17 to 41 weeks and for cervical length from 17 to 32 weeks. Separate reference values for cervical length for nulliparous and parous women should be used from 33 to 41 weeks.

Evaluation of endometrial receptivity during in-vitro fertilization using three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound

OBJECTIVE

To compare sonographic endometrial characteristics in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles between women who conceive and those who do not.

METHODS

Thirty-five women undergoing IVF treatment participated in the study. Using three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound, we assessed endometrial patterns, volume and vascularization, after follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulation but before human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration (referred to hereafter as 'after FSH stimulation') and again on the day of oocyte retrieval.

RESULTS

The pregnancy rate was 37% (13/35). After FSH stimulation, 29 of the 35 women had a triple-line endometrial pattern, compared with five out of 35 on the day of oocyte retrieval. In those who had a triple-line pattern after FSH stimulation the pregnancy rate was 44.8% (13/29) and it was 0% (0/6) in those with a homogeneous pattern (chi-square test, P = 0.039). If a triple-line pattern was present on the day of oocyte retrieval the pregnancy rate was 80.0% (4/5), whereas if the pattern was homogeneous the pregnancy rate was 30.0% (9/30) (P = 0.032). There were no differences between those who conceived and those who did not in endometrial thickness, volume or vascularization on either day examined. Endometrial volume decreased significantly after hCG injection in women who conceived, but not in those who did not conceive. In both groups endometrial and subendometrial vascularization decreased after hCG injection, while the endometrial thickness remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

The existence of a homogeneous endometrial pattern after FSH stimulation seems to be a prognostic sign of an adverse outcome in IVF, while a triple-line pattern after FSH stimulation and a decrease in endometrial volume appear to be associated with conception.

Ultrasound dating at 12-14 weeks of gestation. A prospective cross-validation of established dating formulae in in-vitro fertilized pregnancies

OBJECTIVES

To determine the accuracy of established ultrasound dating formulae when used at 12-14 weeks of gestation.

METHODS

One-hundred and sixty-seven singleton pregnancies conceived after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) underwent a dating scan at 12-14 weeks of gestation. Gestational age at the dating scan was calculated by adding 14 days to the number of days between the date of oocyte retrieval and the date of the ultrasound scan. Gestational age according to oocyte retrieval was regarded as the true gestational age. True gestational age was compared to gestational age calculated on the basis of 21 dating formulae based on fetal crown-rump length (CRL) measurements and to three dating formulae based on fetal biparietal diameter (BPD) measurements. In a previous study the three BPD formulae tested here had been shown to be superior to four other BPD formulae when used at 12-14 weeks of gestation. The mean of the differences between estimated and true gestational age and their standard deviation (SD) were calculated for each formula. The SD of the differences was assumed to reflect random measurement error. Systematic measurement error was assumed to exist if zero lay outside the mean difference+/-2SE (SE: standard error of the mean).

RESULTS

The three best CRL formulae were associated with mean (non-systematic) measurement errors of -0.0, -0.1 and -0.3 days, and the SD of the measurement errors of these formulae varied from 2.37 to 2.45. All but two of the remaining CRL formulae were associated with systematic over- or under-estimation of gestational age, and the SDs of their measurement error varied between 2.25 and 4.86 days. Dating formulae using BPD systematically underestimated gestational age by -0.4 to -0.7 days, and the SDs of their measurement errors varied from 1.86 to 2.09.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified three BPD formulae that are suitable for dating at 12-14 weeks of gestation. They are superior to all 21 CRL formulae tested here, because their random measurement errors were much smaller than those of the three best CRL formulae. The small systematic negative measurement errors associated with the BPD formulae are likely to be clinically unimportant.

Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of three-dimensional gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound examinations of the cervix in pregnant women

OBJECTIVES

To determine intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of three-dimensional (3D) gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound examinations of the cervix in pregnant women.

METHODS

Thirty-two pregnant women underwent transvaginal 3D gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound examination of the cervix by two examiners. Each observer acquired two volumes, and they each analyzed their volumes twice using the commercially available software Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL). The variables analyzed were cervical volume (cm3), vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI). Intraobserver repeatability was expressed as the difference between two measurement results (mean difference +/- 2 SD, i.e. limits of agreement) and as intraclass correlation coefficient (intra-CC). Interobserver agreement was expressed as the difference between the results of the two observers (limits of agreement) and as interclass correlation coefficient (inter-CC). The contribution of various factors (examiner, acquisition, analysis of acquired volume) to intrasubject variance was estimated using different analysis of variance models. All statistical analyses were performed using log-transformed data. The results presented are those obtained after antilogarithmic transformation, i.e. the results are presented as ratios between two results of the same observer, or as ratios between the results of Observer 1 and Observer 2.

RESULTS

All intraobserver and interobserver log-transformed differences were normally distributed. There was no systematic bias between the two observers. Both intra- and inter-CC values were high (0.93-0.98) for all variables except FI (0.63-0.88), despite the limits of agreement being wide, especially for VI (widest range 0.4-2.4) and VFI (widest range 0.3-2.6). Acquisition explained most of the intrasubject variance of the flow indices, the contribution of examiner and analysis being unimportant.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the wide range between the lower and upper limits of agreement, it would probably not be possible to detect anything but large differences or changes in cervical volume or cervical flow indices using current 3D ultrasound techniques. Because acquisition explained most of the intrasubject variance, the average of several repeated acquisitions should be used to enhance reproducibility. However, it is not worth doing more than one analysis of an acquired volume, because the effect of analysis on measurement results is small.

Intraobserver and interobserver variability of ovarian volume, gray-scale and color flow indices obtained using transvaginal three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE

To assess intraobserver and interobserver variability in ovarian volume and gray-scale and color flow index measurements using transvaginal, three-dimensional, power Doppler ultrasonography.

METHODS

Eleven women (22 ovaries) were examined on day 8 of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation therapy, which was part of their in vitro fertilization treatment protocol. The patients were examined twice by the first observer and once by the second observer. The acquired volume datasets were analyzed using the VOCAL imaging program, enabling the assessment of ovarian volume, vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), vascularization flow index (VFI) and mean grayness (MG). For these parameters the intraclass (intra-CC) and interclass (inter-CC) correlation coefficients, within-observer and between-observers repeatability coefficient (r) and limits of agreement were calculated.

RESULTS

Both intraobserver and interobserver repeatability of ovarian volume measurements were considered very good with an intra-CC value of 1.00 and inter-CC value of 0.99, respectively. Also VI, FI, VFI and MG measurements were repeatable by a single observer, the intra-CC ranging from 0.82 to 0.91. The interobserver reproducibility was also good for VI, VFI and MG measurements (inter-CC values 0.73, 0.70 and 0.81, respectively), but for FI measurements the reproducibility was poor (inter-CC = 0.29, r = 7.87).

CONCLUSIONS

In general, the intraobserver reproducibility was better than interobserver reproducibility for all parameters. The volume assessments were reproducible both by one observer and by two separate observers. The intraobserver and interobserver variabilities were acceptable for VI, VFI and MG, whereas for FI the interobserver reproducibility was poor. Our results suggest that measurement of gray-scale and color Doppler flow indices is reproducible thus allowing them to be used in clinical practice and research.

Characterization of normal and polycystic ovaries using three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography

PURPOSE

To evaluate the characteristics of polycystic compared to normal ovaries using three-dimensional (3-D) power Doppler ultrasonography.

METHODS

We recruited 42 volunteers, all of whom were commencing IVF treatment. Each patient was examined in the cycle preceeding the start of drug therapy during the late follicular phase. If eight or more subcapsular follicles of 2-8 mm in diameter in one two-dimensional (2-D) plane were detected in either of the ovaries, the patient was categorized as having polycystic ovaries (PCO); otherwise the ovaries were considered normal. The parameters examined were volume of the ovary, vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), vascularization flow index (VFI), and mean greyness (MG). In addition, the ovary was arbitrarily divided into cortex and stroma, and thereafter volume, VI, FI, VFI, and MG were calculated for these two regions.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight women had normal ovaries and 14 had PCO. The comparison between normal and PCO showed that as a group the PCO were larger, without any differences in VI, Fl, VFI, or MG. In patients with PCO, the right ovary was larger than the left one. In patients with normal ovaries, Fl was higher on the left side. Division into cortex and stroma revealed that there were no differences in cortical or stromal VI, FI, VFI, or MG between normal and PCO on either side.

CONCLUSIONS

The ovaries defined as polycystic were larger than normal ovaries, but there was no difference in the echogenicity of the stroma between polycystic and normal ovaries. We were also unable to demonstrate that the polycystic ovarian stroma was more vascularized than the stroma in the normal ovaries.

Three-dimensional sonographic and power Doppler characterization of ovaries in late follicular phase

OBJECTIVE

To determine ovarian blood flow characteristics using three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound.

METHODS

We examined 30 patients (30 cycles) prior to the start of their in vitro fertilization treatment in the late follicular phase using three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound. The volume, vascularization index, flow index, vascularization flow index, mean grayness and the presence of the dominant follicle were determined for each ovary separately.

RESULTS

The dominant follicle could be detected in 24 out of 30 cycles (80.0%). The volume of the dominant ovary was 9.9 (standard deviation, 4.0) cm3 and the volume of the non-dominant ovary 6.8 (standard deviation, 2.8) cm3 (P < 0.001). Mean grayness in the dominant ovary was 43.3 (standard deviation, 5.0) and in the non-dominant 47.2 (standard deviation, 4.0) (P < 0.001), but no other differences could be observed between dominant and non-dominant ovaries. The shell with a diameter of 2 mm surrounding the dominant follicle had a higher vascularization index (mean, 9.0; standard deviation, 5.9) and vascularization flow index (mean, 4.2; standard deviation, 2.8) than the whole dominant ovary (mean, 5.5; standard deviation, 2.5 and mean, 2.5; standard deviation, 1.3, respectively) (P = 0.003 and 0.002, respectively). In the cycles without a dominant follicle (n = 6), flow index (mean, 50.0; standard deviation, 5.9) and vascularization flow index (mean, 7.3; standard deviation, 6.2) on the left side were higher than on the right side (mean, 40.2; standard deviation, 3.1; mean, 1.5; standard deviation, 1.4; P-values 0.013 and 0.046, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In the dominant ovary, the volume was higher and mean grayness lower than in the non-dominant ovary. The vascularization index in the shell surrounding the dominant follicle was higher than the average vascularization index in the whole dominant ovary. In addition, there were differences in the vascularization and flow indices between right and left ovaries, which may be related to the anatomical difference in the venous drainage between right and left ovaries.

Investigation of the infertile couple: a one-stop ultrasound-based approach

The appropriateness of many investigations for subfertility will continue to be of debate for some time yet. Of most benefit to the concerned couple would be a process that is diagnostically accurate, expeditious and reliable. It should be performed with a minimum of invasion and provide both patient and clinician with useful prognostic information regarding possible future treatment. This article is intended to illustrate the advantages of an ultrasound-based process of subfertility investigation. Discussed is the role of ultrasound compared with more invasive investigative methods such as laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. In addition, the potential capacity of newer advanced ultrasound technologies is reviewed.

Intraobserver reproducibility of Doppler measurements of uterine artery blood flow velocity in premenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

To determine the intraobserver repeatability of Doppler measurements of uterine artery blood flow velocity and the contribution of various factors to within-subject variance.

DESIGN

Seventeen healthy premenopausal women underwent vaginal Doppler ultrasound examination of the uterine artery by the same observer. Three measurements were taken at each of three sites: 1) the currently recommended sampling site; 2) the ascending branch of the uterine artery at a level between the lower and middle third of the corpus uteri; 3) 1.5 cm lateral to the recommended sampling site. Three measurements were taken at each site. For each measurement, three uniform consecutive cardiac cycles were analyzed. Peak systolic velocity, time-averaged maximum velocity, and pulsatility index were calculated. Each Doppler shift spectrum was analyzed twice. Thus, for each women, 18 measurement results per sampling site were obtained. Analysis of variance was used.

RESULTS

The effect of sampling site on measurements of peak systolic velocity and time-averaged maximum velocity was non-significant, but pulsatility index values obtained at the distal sampling site were slightly higher than those obtained at the other sites (P = 0.01). Repetition accounted for most of the within-subject variance. Averaging the results of the three repeat measurements yielded increased intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.79-0.89 for peak systolic velocity, 0.80-0.92 for time-averaged maximum velocity and 0.86-0.93 for pulsatility index.

CONCLUSION

As the effect of repetition on the results of Doppler measurements of uterine artery blood flow velocity is large, the average of several repeat measurements should be used to enhance measurement reproducibility. However, it is not worth doing more than one analysis of a Doppler shift spectrum, and it is not worth analyzing more than one cardiac cycle per spectrum.