The use of transvaginal sonography for evaluation of postmenopausal ovarian size and morphology

Ultrasonic evaluation has been suggested as a possible screening tool for early changes in ovarian morphology. This study uses transvaginal sonography to evaluate the ovaries in postmenopausal women who were scheduled for gynecologic surgery unrelated to adnexal disease. The findings of ultrasonic ovarian examination are compared with the findings at surgery and the pathologic evaluation of the ovaries. Nine (17.3%) abnormal ovaries were identified by ultrasonography and at surgery and were confirmed at pathologic examination. Among the abnormal ovaries there were one malignancy (10%) and two neoplasms with known malignant potential (20%). One ovary that was identified to have microscopic areas of Brenner tumor cells at pathologic examination was described as normal by both ultrasound and surgical evaluation. The sensitivity (90%) and specificity (100%) of vaginal sonography were the same as that of gross examination of the ovary at the time of surgery. We conclude that vaginal sonography is a reliable tool in the detection of early abnormalities in the postmenopausal ovary.