Colour Doppler sonography improves the pre-operative diagnosis of ovarian tumours made using conventional transvaginal sonography.
OBJECTIVE
Conventional transvaginal ultrasound-and transvaginal colour Doppler flow were used to assess morphology and circulation of pelvic masses.


METHODS
One hundred and nine adnexal masses in 101 women were examined between January 1993 and September 1994. Morphology was classified after a score published by Sassone et al. in 1991. Doppler waveforms using the lowest resistance index (RI), the pulsatility index (PI) and peak flow velocity were used for analysis. Ninety five patients underwent laparotomy. Following histopathological evaluation best cut-off values, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Score results were compared with Doppler results and a combination of both methods.


RESULTS
A combination of Doppler sonography and conventional transvaginal sonography led to a sensitivity of 74.0% and a specificity of 73.7%. Eight out of 15 malignant masses were classified as stage I. An analysis of the false positive diagnoses showed that important information can be gained when Doppler sonography is performed. In particular, on solid appearing adnexal masses, Doppler sonography leads to a high accuracy (84.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Colour Doppler sonography is not applicable in routine clinical practice, but can give important additional information in specific cases. For solid appearing masses and in early ovarian malignancy, Doppler sonography facilitates the preoperative discrimination between benign and malignant processes.
Leeners
B
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Aachen, Germany.
Schild
R L
RL
Funk
A
A
Hauptmann
S
S
Kemp
B
B
Schröder
W
W
Rath
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014621:Vagina