[The value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of female genital tract tumors (author's transl)].

In 199 patients with female genital tract tumors the preoperative diagnosis recorded by palpation and ultrasound examination with the A and B apparatus of Kretz were compared with the microscopic findings at laparotomy. The sonographic description of the findings was accurate in 60% of the cases, largely correct in 33% of the cases and mostly erroneous in 7% of the cases. By palpation a correct diagnosis was made in 38% of the cases, largely correct diagnosis was established in 45% of the cases and a mostly erroneous diagnosis was made in 17% of the cases. With tumors up to 4 cm. in diameter, both methods were of approximately equal value. A prognosis as to the likely histology was not possible with the ultrasound technique. A prediction as to malignancy was possible in many cases. Only 4% of the homogenous tumors were malignant whereas 27% of the inhomogenous tumors were malignant tumors.