[Ultrasonographic studies on endometrial carcinoma].

Pre-operative ultrasonographic examinations on endometrial carcinoma were carried out in 34 cases in Tokushima University Hospital for 9 years since 1976. The results were compared with post-operative histological findings. The cancer mass was seen as higher echoic part than normal myometrium and its characteristic echo patterns were grouped into 5 types (4 cases of anechoic, 3 of linear, 4 of cystic, 14 of small mass and 9 of large mass). Small and large mass types were seen in 86% of the cases whose cervix, pelvic lymph nodes or parametrium were involved. The degree of myometrial invasion could be estimated by measuring the thickness of the myometrial echo uninvolved, and its coefficient correlation was 0.65. Depending on the increase in tumor echo size, myometrial invasion sometimes developed more deeply. Cervical involvements were estimated accurately in 86% by ultrasonography. Ultrasonographic estimation of the invasion on endometrial carcinoma was thought to be useful.