Acoustic streaming for assessing adnexal cysts

Lee, Chang Jae; Kim, So Hee; Kim, Jin Hee; Park, Mi Sun; Song, Jun Baek

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Acoustic streaming is movement of fluid or air due to a sound field. It is caused by a transfer of momentum form sound waves, and results in movement in the direction of wave propagation. While acoustic streaming has previously been noted in breast cyst fluid, the lateral ventricle of a premature infant and in blood, there has been very little evaluation of its clinical role. the purpose of this study was to determine whether acoustic streaming has clinical value in the differentiation between various ovarian and adnexal cysts.
METHODS
We assessed 15 adnexal cysts, for which pathological diagnosis was available, for the presence of acoustic streaming during B-mode and color mapping evaluation. Case with totally solid lesions or cysts with anechoic contents were excluded.
RESULTS
Acoustic streaming was detected in 5 (33%) of the cysts. Endometrioma (N=4) did not exhibit acoustic streaming in any case (P=0.004), while of the remaining 11 cysts 5 exhibited acoustic streaming. Dermoid cysts exhibited acoustic streaming in one of five (20%) cases. In addition acoustic streaming was noted in three of four (75%) mucinous cystadenoma, zero of one (0%) function cyst, one of one (100%) struma ovarii.
CONCLUSION
Acoustic streaming is the first sonographic feature that may be able to exclude endometrioma as a possible diagnosis for an adnexal cysts.