Recurrence of ovarian and uterine neoplasms: diagnosis with transrectal US.

Twenty-one patients with clinically suspected recurrence of ovarian (n = 3) or uterine (n = 18) carcinoma were examined with suprapubic ultrasound (US) and transrectal US with high-frequency linear probes. The examinations were performed 3, 6, 9, and 15 months after surgery and radiation therapy. Eight patients underwent radiation therapy before surgery and ten after surgery; three underwent only surgery. Criteria for recurrence included increased anteroposterior diameter of the vaginal cuff (greater than 2.2 cm); structural alterations or presence of a mass in the vaginal cuff; and infiltration of the rectovaginal septum, bladder, and parametria. Transrectal US findings were true positive for recurrence in nine cases, true negative in ten, and false positive in two. US findings were true positive in three cases, true negative in seven, false positive in two, and false negative in three. In six cases results from US were technically poor, and no diagnosis could be made. Transrectal US was highly sensitive in detection of pelvic recurrent carcinomas, while US had little diagnostic value. The authors believe transrectal US can replace US in the evaluation of patients at risk for recurrent pelvic neoplasm.

[Comparative study of hepatic metastasis with different modality ultrasound scanners]. / Studio comparativo delle metastasi epatiche con ecografi a differente modalità di scansione.

57 patients affected by liver metastases were examined with different types of dynamic ultrasound scanners (linear-sector-convex) in order to assess the advantages and the limits of each scanner and to evaluate if a better diagnostic accuracy is possible by using 2 types of scanner in the same patient. The results were estimated at 3 different levels: quantitative analysis where we considered only the presence or not of liver metastases; complex quantitative analysis where we also evaluate number and site of the metastases; qualitative structural analysis where we compared the ultrasonographic appearance of the metastases. All the results were evaluated by a personal computer with a special program and a statistical analysis was elaborated.

[Ultrasonic diagnosis, staging and follow-up of prostatic neoplasms]. / Diagnosi, staging e follow-up ecografici delle neoplasie prostatiche.

120 patients with clinical suspected prostatic neoplasm were evaluate by transrectal linear sonography. 26 normal glands, 57 hypertrophic adenomas and 37 adenocarcinomas were recognized. We had 17 false positive cases for adenocarcinoma in hypertrophic adenomas. We had no false negatives. All diagnosis were confirmed bioptically, by CT or surgically. The findings of 37 adenocarcinomas are examined. The US criteria for early diagnosis (T1-T2), advantages and limits of transrectal linear probe in staging and follow-up, are discussed.