Doppler flow and arterial location in ovarian tumors

Abstract 

Objectives: This prospective study investigated the clinical evaluation of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Methods: Transvaginal ultrasonography (morphological assessment, DePriest's index) and color Doppler analysis were performed for 31 malignant and 64 benign tumors ovarian tumors. Serum tumor markers such as CA125, CA72-4, and STN were measured. Results: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were as follows: DePriest's index, 90.3%, 73.4%, 62.2%, 94.0%, 78.9%; CA125, 70.4%, 87.7%, 73.1%, 86.2%, 82.1%; minimum pulsatile index combined with detection of location of arterial blood flow, 83.9%, 98.4%, 96.3%, 92.6%, 93.7%, respectively. In cases where arterial blood flow was recognized, malignant tumors had significantly fewer diastolic notches, while benign tumors had many diastolic notches. The difference in the presence of diastolic notch between malignant and benign tumors was significant (P<0.0004). Conclusions: For diagnosis of ovarian tumors, transvaginal color Doppler analysis combined with detection of arterial location is more useful than other procedures.

Keywords: Transvaginal ultrasonography, Color Doppler, Tumor marker, Ovarian tumors