3-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY - PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE

OBJECTIVE: Technologic advances in ultrasonographic imaging have revol utionized the management of women's health care. We recently began to evaluate the clinical applications of three-dimensional ultrasonograph y. STUDY DESIGN: This study prospectively evaluated 161 obstetric and gynecologic patients. Both two- and three-dimensional imaging data wer e acquired from real-time ultrasonography. Three orthogonal planes wer e displayed on a monitor and were used to create the rendered three-di mensional images. RESULTS: To date, 201 three-dimensional ultrasonogra phic studies have been performed, 165 transabdominally and 36 transvag inally. Transabdominally, an average of eight acquisitions per patient were obtained. Of the clinically suspected abnormalities, 29 of 32 (9 1%) were confirmed by three-dimensional imaging.Three of 32 (9%) impro ved the diagnostic capabilities or changed the diagnosis. Of the 36 tr ansvaginal studies, an average of four acquisitions per patient were d one. Thirty (83%) of these patients had suspected abnormalities and al l were confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional ultrasonographic imag ing appears to be highly promising in the clinical setting.