The use of high-frequency ultrasonography in the assessment of selected female reproductive structures: the vulva, vagina and cervix.

INTRODUCTION: High-frequency ultrasonography enables visualization the layered structure of the skin and shows the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue and skin appendages: hair follicles, sebaceous glands, sweat glands and blood vessels. The aim of this study was to apply high-frequency ultrasonography to evaluate the structure of the vulva, vagina and cervix, and to describe their anatomy in ultrasound. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The examinations were conducted with the use of high-frequency probes: DermaView 48 MHz and Episcan 50 MHz, by three operators experienced in performing classical ultrasound scans (with 30-, 10- and 9-year experience). The study involved 50 women aged 20-80 years who reported for a periodical gynecological check-up and presented no symptoms within the reproductive system. RESULTS: In this study, the individual layers of the skin in the area of the mons pubis, labia majora (together with hair follicles and sweat glands) and labia minora were successfully visualized in all the patients. The subepidermal low-echogenicity band was seen in the area of the mons pubic and labia majora in 40 cases. This concerned 100% of women who underwent cosmetic skin treatments. In all the patients, HFUS demonstrated the layered structure of the anterior and posterior vaginal walls, the walls of the urinary bladder and rectum, layers of the vaginal portion of the cervix and the external opening of the cervix. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency ultrasonography offers new quality of vulvar, vaginal and cervical imaging. It can be used for evaluation of the vulva and vagina, and confirms their layered structure. It also enables accurate measurements of the thickness of the vulvar epidermis and dermis as well as the thickness of the vaginal walls.

The usefulness of high-frequency ultrasonography in the evaluation of vulvar dermatoses in postmenopausal women - a preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: The vulva is an external female genital organ with complex anatomy and histology. In postmenopausal women, this region is at particular risk of different types of conditions known as dermatoses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed benign vulvar skin lesions using high-frequency 48 MHz ultrasound transducer (DermaView) prior to biopsy or excision. We compared ultrasonographic images with histology. RESULTS: We assessed benign vulvar lesions such as folliculitis, condylomata acuminatum, lichen sclerosus and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. We presented typical high-frequency images of these pathologies and compared them with histological images. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study confirms that high-frequency ultrasonography is a useful tool in the assessment of vulvar pathologies, especially before surgical excision. A precise visualization of certain pathologies like folliculitis, lichen sclerosus, condylomata and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia is possible.

The usefulness of high-frequency ultrasonography in the preoperative evaluation of vulvar cancer - a case series.

Vulvar cancer is a malignancy of female lower genital tract with incidence of 1:100,000 in Poland. The most common types of vulvar cancers are squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. This study was approved by the board of the Clinical Unit of Obstetrics, Women's Disease and Gynecological Oncology, United District Hospital, Collegium Medicum University of Nicolaus Copernicus in Torun, Poland. This is a tertiary reference center. We analyzed cases of postmenopausal women diagnosed with vulvar cancer referred to our clinic for surgery. The aim of the study was to compare 48 MHz ultrasound images of vulvar cancer with histological images and assess the utility of high-frequency ultrasonography images in preoperative assessment. We examined 3 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 1 case of basal cell carcinoma using 48 MHz DermaView high-frequency mechanical probe. We described typical ultrasonographic features of vulvar carcinoma, such as echogenicity, depth of infiltration, as well as we discussed limitations of this transducer. The 48 MHz frequency exhibits a promising value for the preoperative assessment of vulvar carcinoma. High-frequency ultrasonography can provide some important information, such as morphology, boundary, internal echo, and thus help choose adequate surgical approach.

The utility of high-frequency ultrasonography in preoperative assessment of vulvar Paget's disease - a case report.

Paget's disease of the vulva is a rare skin cancer accounting for less than 1% of all vulvar neoplasias. Surgery is the first treatment of choice. Unfortunately, it is insufficient in many cases, which require further treatment, and the risk of recurrence is high. We present a case of an 85-year-old woman who underwent surgery due to Paget's disease of the vulva. A preoperative skin imaging using a high-frequency 48 MHz mechanical probe was used to assess the lesion margins. Typical high-frequency ultrasonographic features of vulvar Paget's disease were identified and analyzed. This is the first report of high-frequency ultrasonography imaging of vulvar Paget's disease.

Diagnostic value of the gynecology imaging reporting and data system (GI-RADS) with the ovarian malignancy marker CA-125 in preoperative adnexal tumor assessment.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to assess the preoperative evaluation of an adnexal mass using the GI-RADS classification and to verify whether CA-125 measurement can offer any additional benefits to the GI-RADS-based prediction of ovarian tumor malignancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we assessed a total of 215 women with an adnexal tumor using the GI-RADS classification combined with CA-125 measurement. All adnexal masses underwent histological verification. RESULTS: Of a total of 215 lesions, we classified 2 lesions as GI-RADS 2 (0.9%), 118 lesions as GI-RADS 3 (54.9%), 86 lesions as GI-RADS 4 (40.0%) and 9 lesions as GI-RADS 5 (4.2%). For GI-RADS 4-5 lesions, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, ACC and OR were as follows: 94.3, 72.2, 52.6, 97.5, 77.7%, and 43.3 (CI 12.0-146), respectively. The corresponding parameters resulting from combining the GI-RADS classification with the CA-125 marker were as follows: 66.0, 93.8, 77.8, 89.4, 87.0%, and 29.6 (CI 12.6-69.6), respectively, with p < 0.001. For Ca-125 > 30 IU/mL alone, the results were as follows: 70.0, 80.3, 53.8, 89.1, 77.7%, and 9.5 (4.6-19.6), respectively, with p < 0.0001. Additionally, 47.8% of the patients had no symptoms, 36.5% had back pain, 5.2% had an increased abdominal size, 4.3% had menstrual irregularities and 2.6% had constipation. There were 152 benign and 18 malignant cases in the low risk group (GIRADS 1-3 and GIRADS 4 + CA-125 < 30 IU/mL) and 10 benign and 35 malignant tumors in the high-risk group (GIRADS 4 + CA125 > 30 IU/mL and GIRADS 5). CONCLUSIONS: GI-RADS classification had good performance in discriminating ovarian tumors. The additional measurement of CA-125 improves the system specificity, PPV and ACC for preoperative adnexal tumor assessment.

Utility of Doppler parameters at 36-42 weeks' gestation in the prediction of adverse perinatal outcomes in appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses.

AIM: To investigate the potential value of Doppler ultrasound and to assess cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) in the prediction of adverse perinatal outcome defined as Apgar score < 7 at 1 minute. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in selected pregnant women undergoing an ultrasound examination between 36 and 42 weeks of gestation. We measured estimated fetal weight (EFW), mean umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA PI), mean middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA PI), CPR, and Apgar score in 1 minute. Multiples of medians (MoM) were calculated for MCA PI and UA PI. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 446 women, 236 were primipara and 210 were multipara. The average age was 29.6 years (range 16-46 years). The average week of delivery is 39.5 weeks of gestation (range 36-42). Mean MCA PI and UA PI were 1.3 (0.1-2.45) and 0.8 (0.39-1.66), respectively. The mean values were 1.03 (0.1-1.9) for MCA PI MoM and 1.04 (0.5-2.1) for UA PI MoM. Primiparas had lower values of MCA PI (1.27 vs. 1.34), MCA PI MoM (1.00 vs. 1.05), CPR (1.62 vs. 1.73), EFW (3479.53 g vs. 3579.25 g) and birth weight (3513.50 g vs. 3617.79 g). For CPR cut-off point of 1.08: sensitivity was (0.945), specificity 0.1, positive predictive values 0.979, negative predictive values 0.04 and accuracy 0.926. The ROC curves for CPR were: area under the curve was 0.52 at CI 95% (0.342-0.698), p = 0.8271. CONCLUSION: Screening in pregnancies with appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses at 36-42 weeks of gestation using Doppler parameters is not useful in the prediction of adverse perinatal outcomes like an Apgar score < 7 at 1 minute.

Use of the Kwak Thyroid Image Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules: systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic literature review was to assess the usefulness of the Thyroid Image Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) classification proposed by Kwak for differentiation of thyroid nodules. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four literature databases were searched for relevant articles through early January 2017. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). The area under the curve (AUC) from the pooled receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to assess the usefulness of this classification for differentiation of thyroid nodules. Meta-analysis was conducted by using meta-analysis software. RESULTS: We analysed six publications describing 10,926 nodules. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, LR+, LR-, DOR, and AUC for pooled ROC were 0.983 (95 % CI 0.976-0.989), 0.552 (95 % CI 0.542-0.562), 2.666 (95 % CI 1.692-4.198), 0.05 (95 % CI 0.035-0.072), 51.020 (95 % CI 15.241-170.79) and 0.938, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Kwak TIRADS has high sensitivity and low specificity. Thus, it is very useful to discard the benign cases and to reduce the number of biopsies. KEY POINTS: • Routine, adequate standardization of thyroid nodules ultrasound classification is mandatory. • Kwak TIRADS parameters are accurate for differentiating focal thyroid lesions. • Kwak TIRADS system is simple to apply. • Kwak TIRADS system may become a useful diagnostic tool.

Components of metabolic syndrome in the first trimester of pregnancy as predictors of adverse perinatal outcome.

OBJECTIVES: It is the prospective observational study aimed at early prediction of pregnancy complications in women with symptoms of MS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 124 Caucasian women in singleton pregnancies 11th to the 13th wks 6 days of gestation with MS criteria compared to 30 healthy controls. Perinatal maternal and fetal results were analyzed. RESULTS: Increased in the MS group were: age (32.9 y vs. 28.6 y; p = 0,00), weight 11 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation (79.0 kg vs. 59.7 kg; p = 0.00), BMI (29 kg/m² vs. 21.6 kg/m²; p = 0.00), waist-hip ratio (WHR) (0.9 vs. 0.8; p = 0.00). Maternal serum parameters were higher in the MS group: LDL-cholesterol (124.1 vs. 109.6 mg/dL; p = 0.02), t-PA (2556.8 vs. 1949.5 pg/mL; p < 0.00), GGTP (16.8 vs. 13.3 IU/L; p = 0.02) and lower values for: adiponectin (6.4 vs. 7.5 µg/mL; p = 0.01), SHBG (273.4 vs. 338.4 nmol/L; p = 0.001). MS group neonates higher body weight (3594.4 vs. 3312.2 g; p = 0.01), significantly frequent macrosomic neo-nates (> 4000 g) (20.9% vs. 6.6%; p = 0.042), GDM (12% vs. 0; p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Higher E-selectin serum concentration, GGTP and lower SHBG in first trimester are additionally to fasting maternal glucose, higher BMI and maternal age predictive for GDM. Higher E-selectin, fasting glucose, increased BMI and lower adiponectin serum concentration in first trimester are significant predictors of fetal macrosomia. Maternal BMI > 24.5 kg/m² is the best predictor of increased risk of fetal macrosomia and gestational diabetes mellitus.

[Transvaginal ultrasonography and sonohysterography in the diagnosis of benign uterine lesions in women at peri- and postmenopausal age]. / Przydatnosc endosonografii dopochwowej i sonohisterografii w diagnostyce lagodnych zmian macicy u kobiet w wieku okolo- i pomenopauzalnym.

Abnormal uterine bleeding is important clinical problem in women at peri- and postmenopausal age. It may be caused by the lesions located in endometrium or in deeper uterine wall layers. An aim of this paper was a comparison of transvaginal sonography (TVS) vs. sonohysterography (SIS) in the diagnostics of endometrial polyps, endometrial hyperplasia as well as uterine myomas. Also the results of the sonographic imaging were compared to those of pathologic examination of the specimens taken from the uterine cavity. The material consisted of 100 women aged 40-80 with an irregular menstruation. All of the patients were examined gynecologically, and then the transvaginal sonography, sonohysterography and the curettage of the uterine cavity were performed. Sensitivity of TVS was 43% in endometrial polyps, 77% in endometrial hyperplasia and 69% in uterine myomas imaging. Introduction of SIS increased the sensitivity to 94%, 82%, and 95%, respectively. Specificity was similar in both techniques except endometrial hyperplasia (TVS--68%, SIS--91%). Diagnostic accuracy also improved with the SIS use reaching 93% for polyps, 89% for hyperplasia and 98% for myomas imaging. Our results show higher sensitivity and accuracy of SIS in the diagnostic of benign uterine lesions.