Improving the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in suspected acute appendicitis by the combined transabdominal and transvaginal approach.

Transabdominal ultrasound has a lower diagnostic yield in acute appendicitis than computed tomography (CT) scanning. The addition of transvaginal sonography in women with suspected appendicitis has shown improvement in the efficacy of diagnosis, potentially providing the option of selective CT use and reducing overall investigative cost and surgical delay. Two hundred ninety-two women who underwent combined transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound for suspected acute appendicitis were evaluated.

"Onion skin" sign in an ovarian mucinous cyst.

The sonographic "onion skin" sign was initially described as concentric echogenic layers in mucinous tumors unrelated to the female reproductive system. Typically, the sonographic appearance of ovarian mucinous cystadenoma includes numerous septa and fine, gravity-dependent echoes. We present a case of the "onion skin" sign in a mucinous ovarian tumor.

Variable echogenicity as a sonographic sign in the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian mucinous tumors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the "variable echogenicity" sign in the preoperative sonographic diagnosis of ovarian mucinous tumors.

Methods: Variable echogenicity was detected sonographically in different compartments of 8 adnexal multilocular masses. This finding was correlated with the final histologic results.

The malignant potential of endometrial polyps.

Objectives: To determine the pre-malignant and malignant potential of endometrial polyps and to assess whether different clinical parameters are associated with malignancy in the polyps.

Study Design: Four hundred and thirty consecutive cases of hysteroscopic diagnosis of endometrial polyp were retrieved. The medical records, preoperative vaginal sonography results and histopathology findings were reviewed.

The onion skin sign: a specific sonographic marker of appendiceal mucocele.

Objective: To evaluate the association of the onion skin sign as a sonographic marker for appendiceal mucocele.

Methods: The sonographic onion skin sign was considered specific for the preoperative diagnosis of appendiceal mucocele. Therefore, detection of this sign in a mass located in the right lower abdomen, unrelated to the female reproductive organs, indicated surgical intervention with a presumptive diagnosis of appendiceal mucocele.