Abstract
[Purpose] To evaluate the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) with hand-held devices for the detection of adnexal diseases. [Materials and methods] We reviewed reports of TAUS with hand-held devices in 46 female patients between 15 and 50 years of age who presented to the emergency department with lower abdominal pain. Of these 46 patients, 32 for whom definitive diagnoses were obtained before discharge from the department or who saw other specialists later were analyzed. [Results] Of the 32 patients, 15 were diagnosed with adnexal diseases, including hemorrhagic ovarian cyst (n=5), ovarian tumor (n=4), endometrioma (n=3), fallopian pregnancy (n=1), pyosalpinx (n=1), and adnexitis (n=1). TAUS detected adnexal lesions or hemoperitoneum in 8 of 9 patients (89%) who underwent gynecological operations. TAUS yielded 87% sensitivity, 94% specificity, and 91%accuracy for the detection of adnexal diseases. [Conclusion] TAUS with hand-held devices is potentially useful for detection of adnexal diseases by doctors other than gynecologists, but further investigation is needed to confirm the utility of this method.
