A comparison of colour Doppler sonography and the pelvic arteriogram in assessment of patients with gestational trophoblastic disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether colour Doppler sonography can replace pelvic arteriography in the assessment of patients with gestational trophoblastic disease.


METHODS
An observational study in which patients with gestational trophoblastic disease were assessed with both pelvic arteriography and colour Doppler sonography.


METHODS
The oncology unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong. The unit is the main tertiary referral centre for treatment of trophoblastic diseases in Hong Kong.


METHODS
Thirty-two consecutive women referred over an 18 month period.


METHODS
The site of localisation of the tumour and the size of the tumour as assessed by both methods.


RESULTS
Eleven patients had a spontaneous fall of beta-hCG titres and did not have pelvic arteriograms performed. The remaining 21 patients had both investigations performed. Four patients had no evidence of abnormal pelvic vessels either on colour Doppler sonography or on pelvic arteriography. Their raised beta hCG titres were due to metastatic disease elsewhere. In the remaining patients the location of the tumour vessels was found to be concordant between the two methods of imaging. Measurements of the mean diameter of tumour bulk by the two methods also agreed well (r = 0.93, P < 0.0001). Pelvic arteriogram over-estimated the size of the tumour in two patients by 2 and 3 cm, respectively, but this did not alter the risk categories of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Colour Doppler sonography is a noninvasive technique that can replace pelvic arteriography in the assessment of patients with trophoblastic diseases.
Chan
F Y
FY
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Queensland, Mater Mothers' Hospital, South Brisbane, Australia.
Chau
M T
MT
Pun
T C
TC
Lam
C
C
Ngan
H Y
HY
Wong
R L
RL
D000792:Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010388:Pelvis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018245:Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color