title: Doppler velocimetry and cytofluorimetric analysis in uterine myomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To correlate resistance indices (RI) of vessels detected by transvaginal Doppler velocimetry to the proliferative fraction (PF) calculated by flow cytometry in uterine myomas. A prospective study was carried out on patients scheduled for surgery because of symptomatic uterine myomas. A group of 26 myomas characterized by the presence of detectable vessels at Doppler analysis in the inner part of the mass were included in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The day before surgery patients were studied with both conventional and color Doppler ultrasonography. The volume of the myoma was recorded. The lowest value of RI obtained by Doppler analysis of the vessels within the myoma was considered for the study. Samples from myomas were processed and analyzed by flow cytometry. A PF, representing the cumulative frequency of cells in the S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle, was considered for the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant correlation was observed between RI and PF (r = 0.06, p = 0.74). Regression analysis of the intratumoral RI values on the volume of the myoma showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.46, p = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative Doppler evaluation of uterine myomas did not provide predictive information of the proliferative status of the neoplasm. A significant correlation was found between the volume of the myoma and RI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. atesta@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Antonia Carla
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pomini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fattorossi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrandina
authors.forename: Donata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mansueto
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mastromarino
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance