title: Doppler Ultrasound Flow Evaluation of the Uterine Arteries Significantly Correlates with Tumor Size in Cervical Cancer Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this present study was to evaluate the sonographic correlation between Doppler flow characteristics of the uterine arteries and tumor size in patients with cervical cancer, in order to establish a new potential marker to monitor treatment response.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study of 25 patients who underwent a sonographic evaluation of Doppler flow characteristics of the uterine arteries before surgery or radiochemotherapy for early and locally advanced/advanced cervical cancer, respectively, was analyzed. The primary outcome was the correlation between Doppler flow characteristics of the uterine arteries and tumor size in patients with cervical cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age was 49 (range 26-85) years, and mean tumor size was 40.8 ± 17 mm. A significant positive correlation was found between tumor diameter and the uterine artery end-diastolic velocity (r = 0.47, p < 0.05) as well as the peak systolic velocity (r = 0.41, p < 0.05). No correlation was found between tumor size and the pulsatility index or resistance index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cervical cancer, uterine artery velocity parameters are associated with tumor size. This finding could become particularly useful in the follow-up of locally advanced cervical cancer patients undergoing radiochemotherapy or in corroborating the selection of women with more possibility of a high response rate during neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bolla
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: In-Albon
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. andrea.papadia@insel.ch.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papadia
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Naro
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gasparri
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raio
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D047368:Tumor Burden; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy