EARLY DETECTION OF OVARIAN-CARCINOMA WITH TRANSVAGINAL COLOR DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the potentials and limitations of the early detection of ovarian cancer in protocols that involve trans vaginal color Doppler ultrasonography. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective ana lysis was performed on the data from 206 referred patients who either had surgical or clinical follow-up of ovarian masses evaluated by tran svaginal color Doppler ultrasonography. Most of the patients were refe rrals or had risk factors. RESULTS: In this series of 206 patients, 26 ovarian cancers were detected, >70% of which were stage I or II. CONC LUSION: Transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography is capable of early detection of ovarian carcinoma. An improved detection rate may be rea lized with better identification of high-risk patients who should be s tudied with transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography.