Ultrasonography of the pelvic organs in prepubertal and postpubertal girls

Abstract

Reference curves for the growth of the uterus and ovaries were established for prepubertal and postpubertal girls by examining 34 healthy schoolgirls of age 7, 10, 13, and 17 years by grayscale ultrasound. Uterine volume increased from mean 0.9 cm3 at 7 years to 53 cm3 at 17 years. The ovaries could not be detected by ultrasound in girls of 7 years, but ovarian volume increased from mean 0.7 cm3 at 10 years to 5.8 cm3 at 17 years. There was good correlation between the Tanner score and uterine and ovarian volumes (r = 0.91 and 0.82 respectively). To test the reference curve, the uterine volume was assessed in 10 girls with abnormal sexual development. Five girls with precocious puberty had values greater than mean + 2 SD and 5 girls with primary amenorrhoea had values less than mean - 2 SD. Good reference values for ovarian and uterine size are necessary before ultrasound can be used to evaluate these organs in children with abnormal development of the reproductive system.