Real-time ultrasonography for determination of ovarian morphology and volume. A possible early screening test for ovarian cancer?

The accuracy with which ovarian morphology and size can be determined by a real-time, ultrasound mechanical sector scanner was assessed. Both ovaries of 11 climacteric women appeared morphologically normal by ultrasonography and these findings were confirmed at laparotomy the following day. The correlation coefficient between ovarian volumes determined by sonar and those obtained by direct measurement at operation was 0.97. In a series of 31 postmenopausal women in whom clinical examination was unremarkable, both ovaries were identified by sonar in 26 subjects (84%) and a cystic ovary was diagnosed in 1 patient. Ovarian morphology in the other 25 subjects appeared normal and the range of volumes was from 1.47 to 10.43 cm3 with an arithmetic mean of 4.33 cm2 +/- 1.91 (SD). The mean difference between the volumes of the right and left ovaries was 1.48 cm3 +/- 1.19 and the percentage mean difference was 42.88% +/- 32.05. An ovary with a volume more than twice the size of its fellow should be regarded with some suspicion because ovarian volumes within individuals are clearly related (correlation coefficient = 0.82). The potential of the technique as a screening test for the early detection of ovarian cancer warrants further evaluation.