title: Role of ultrasound in characterization of ovarian masses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian cancer is the second most common malignancy in Pakistani women, accounting for 4% of all cancers in the female population. The aim of this study was to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and 95% confidence intervals for ultrasound in characterization of ovarian masses in patients presenting at public and private tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We adopted a cross-sectional analytical study design to retrospectively collect data from January 2009-11 from medical records of two tertiary care hospitals. Using a non-probability purposive sampling technique, we recruited a sample of 86 women aged between 15 and 85 years fulfilling inclusion criteria with histopathologically proven ovarian masses presenting for an ultrasound examination in our radiology departments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our retrospective data depicted sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound to be 90.7%, 95%CI (0.77, 0.97) and 91.4%, 95%CI (0.76, 0.98) respectively. Positive predictive value was 93%, 95%CI (0.79, 0.98) and negative predictive value was 89%, 95%CI (0.73, 0.96). A total of 78 ovarian masses were detected, out of which 42 were malignant and 36 were benign.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of our study further reinforce the conclusion that ultrasound should be used as an initial modality of choice in the workup of every woman suspected of having an ovarian mass. It not only results in decreasing the mortality but also avoids unnecessary surgical interventions.
authors.affiliation: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hafeez
authors.forename: Saira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sufian
authors.forename: Madiha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beg
authors.forename: Quratulain
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hadi
authors.forename: Yasir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.forename: Imrana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masroor
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010154:Pakistan; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult