Ultrasonic diagnosis of gynecologic disorders in children.

During the last five years we have applied diagnostic ultrasound to more than 350 girls under the age of 15 for suspected obstetric and gynecologic disorders. More than 60% of these patients were pregnant and were studied before elective abortion. Many other children were studied for amenorrhea or for the evaluation of a pelvic mass. Sonography has allowed us to successfully distinguish pelvic masses of ovarian origin from those of uterine origin. We have also been able to rule out functioning endocrine tumors in children with precocious puberty. In cases of intersex, sonography has been useful in the older child prior to reconstructive surgery but has played an ancillary role to more invasive procedures in the infant.