Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 14, Issue 9 689-692, Copyright © 1995 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Lipomatous uterine masses: potential to mimic ovarian dermoids on endovaginal sonography
B. S. Hertzberg, M. A. Kliewer, P. George, J. W. McDonald and B. A. Carroll
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Lipomatous uterine masses are uncommon hyperechoic pelvic neoplasms
composed partly of adipose tissue. Because of the high level of
echogenicity, these uterine masses can produce produce a sonographic
appearance strikingly similar to the "dermoid plug" that is considered
characteristic of benign cystic teratomas. The key to distinguishing the
two tumors is to ascertain the parent organ: the lipomatous uterine mass
should clearly originate from the myometrium. In our experience, however,
the origin of some echogenic pelvic masses can be difficult to determine,
particularly from the endovaginal perspective. This report describes the
transabdominal and endovaginal ultrasonographic findings in three patients
with lipomatous uterine masses for whom the endovaginal perspective alone,
without supplemental transabdominal views, would have resulted in
misdiagnosis.
