Three-dimensional ultrasonography in the diagnosis of deep endometriosis.

Study Question: In the use of 'tenderness-guided' transvaginal ultrasound, is the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography better than two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography in the identification of deep endometriosis?

Summary Answer: Three-dimensional ultrasonography has a significantly higher diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of posterior locations of deep endometriosis without intestinal involvement, such as the uterosacral ligaments, vaginal and rectovaginal endometriosis.

What Is Known Already: The only previous study of the diagnosis of posterior compartment endometriosis reported an poor sensitivity of 3D ultrasonography for uterosacral and sigmoid colon involvement.

Study Design, Size, Duration: This diagnostic test study included 202 patients scheduled for surgery because of clinical suspicion of deep pelvic endometriosis and was carried out between January 2009 and September 2012.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of ulipristal acetate for uterine leiomyoma treatment.

Introduction: Progesterone (P), and its receptors (PRs), play a key role in uterine leiomyoma growth. Selective progesterone receptor modulators exert mixed antagonist and agonist effects on the PRs. Mifepristone, a PR-antagonist, reduces leiomyoma volume and related symptoms.

Association between different morphological types and abnormal karyotypes in early pregnancy loss.

Objectives: To identify the abnormal transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) findings typical of aneuploidic pregnancies that end with early pregnancy loss (EPL).

Methods: This was a prospective clinical trial over a 2½-year period from January 2004 to June 2006 at the University Hospital of Cagliari, Italy. One hundred and fifty-six singleton pregnancies with EPL were evaluated by TVS, both before and at the moment of EPL diagnosis.

Role of transvaginal sonography in the diagnosis of peritoneal inclusion cysts.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the accuracy of B-mode transvaginal sonography alone and combined with color Doppler imaging and cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) plasma concentrations in differentiating peritoneal cysts from other adnexal masses.

Methods: Between September 1999 and September 2003, 213 adnexal masses underwent transvaginal sonography combined with power Doppler evaluation. Plasma concentrations of CA 125 were measured before surgery.