Transvaginal ultrasonography in nonpregnant and postmenopausal women.

Compared with transabdominal pelvic ultrasonography, transvaginal ultrasonography provides improved resolution for visualization of female pelvic organs, with less artifact. Transvaginal ultrasonography has superseded the transabdominal approach in many situations. Identification of uterine and adnexal masses can be facilitated with use of transvaginal ultrasonography. Transvaginal ultrasonography is also useful in the evaluation of pelvic pain and suspected pelvic inflammatory disease. Postmenopausal patients with vaginal bleeding or a palpable ovary can be triaged on the basis of transvaginal ultrasonographic findings, avoiding invasive diagnostic procedures in selected patients. Screening average-risk patients for ovarian cancer is not an accepted indication for transvaginal ultrasonography at this time.