Ultrasound of uterine adnexa

Uterine adnex ultrasound is actually a medical method that uses ultrasound to check the internal health of the uterus. As an organ for women to bear offspring, its health needs to be paid attention to at all times. In addition to ultrasonic examination of the uterine appendages, ordinary gynecological examinations, B-ultrasound examinations, and serum tumor antigen tests are all methods that can detect the health of the uterus. However, there are differences in their focus and scope of application for different examination methods.

1. Gynecological examination.

Most pelvic masses and ovarian abnormalities can be detected through gynecological examinations, but smaller masses or obese people are difficult to detect through pelvic examinations.

2. Ultrasound examination.

It is one of the economical, rapid and effective detection methods for screening pelvic masses, and can detect ovarian enlargement and the nature of the mass. Transvaginal B-ultrasound examination can more accurately show ovarian abnormalities. CT scan can be performed when ovarian cancer is highly suspected but there is a lack of evidence or financial conditions allow. Generally speaking, there is nothing abnormal about the masses in the adnexal area through B-ultrasound examination, unless there is hydrosalpinx or tubo-ovarian cyst formation, in which case the mass will be found through B-ultrasound examination. When examining acute adnexitis, leucorrhea may be purulent or homogeneous mucous, the adnexa are often tender and painful, and sometimes inflammatory masses adherent to the fallopian tubes and ovaries may be palpated, with unclear boundaries and restricted movement. Chronic adnexitis examination shows tenderness in the lower abdomen, and pelvic examination shows thickening and tenderness on both sides of the uterus, and sometimes an enlarged, fixed cystic mass can be felt. Generally speaking, there are no abnormal findings in B-ultrasound examination, unless there is hydrosalpinx or tubal ovarian cyst formation, in which case ultrasound examination may reveal a mass.

3. Serum tumor antigen 125 (CA125) detection.

When the nature of an ovarian mass is unclear, detection of CA125 and other tumor markers can help with diagnosis. However, CA125 may also be elevated in cases of pelvic inflammation or endometriosis. In addition, not all ovarian cancers have abnormal CA125 levels.

For those with a family history, checking BRCA (breast cancer oncogene) 1 and BRCA2 can further screen high-risk individuals in the family, but the positive rate of this test in ovarian cancer patients is only 5% to 10%.

In addition, auxiliary examinations such as pregnancy test, probe test, hysterosalpingography, X-ray or laparoscopy, CT scan, MRI, etc. can help with diagnosis.