Objective: To evaluate the differentiation value of broad ligaments fibroid (BLF) from ovarian solid tumor (OST) by contrast enhanced sonography (CES) with small dose of Sonovue intravenous drip.
Methods: Twenty-two patients with uncertain origin adnexal masses were enrolled in this study. The sonovue 1.0ml intravenous drip, followed by saline 10 ml infusion fast. The arrival time, time to peak, and wash out time of sonovue in tumour and uterine myometrium were recorded. All of the tumours were removed within one week after CES and the specimens were examined pathologically.
Results: The gray scale images revealed that all of the tumours were solid with either low or mild echogenicity and located in the adnexal zone, but the ipsilateral ovary could not be visualized. Histopathological examinations revealed that among the 22 operated masses, 12 lesions were OST, 9 were BLF, and 1 was swell lymph node within pelvis. The arrival time of sonovue in the lesions was earlier than myometrium in 13 masses, later in 9. Based on the diagnostic criteria of BLF in that the arrival time of sonovue in the tumour is later than that of arriving the myometrium,the sensitivity and specialty are 100% both.
Conclusions: Contrast enhanced sonography is a useful method in preoperative identification of broad ligaments fibroid from ovarian tumours by using small dose of SONOVUE intravenous drip.