The spectrum of sonographic findings in endometriomas

Abstract

The sonographic features of 40 pathologically proven endometriomas in 32 patients were reviewed to evaluate their sonographic spectrum. Acoustic enhancement was present in 88% and indeterminate in 10% due to technical factors. With respect to internal echo texture, the majority of endometriomas were predominantly anechoic (80%): 7 were totally anechoic; 4 contained septations; 12 contained scattered internal echoes, with or without septations; and 9 contained dependent echoes, with or without septations. Seven endometriomas contained diffuse, low-level internal echoes and were considered hypoechoic, but still fluid-containing masses. Only 1 was echogenic. The overall appearance frequently simulated that of hemorrhagic ovarian cyst, but in some cases endometriomas resembled tubo-ovarian abscess, cystadenoma/cystadenocarcinoma, or ectopic pregnancy.