TRANSVAGINAL COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY IN OVARIAN-TUMORS

In 129 patients with ovarian tumours, a preoperative examination by tr ansvaginal colour Doppler sonography (ATL UM9 HDI) was performed. 45 w ere malignant and 84 benign. 46 patients were premenopausal and 83 pos tmenopausal. All tumour vessels were anlaysed by spectrum analysis. Th e number of tumour vessels and the lowest resistance index (RImin) and pulsatility index (PImin) of all vessels were evaluated as diagnostic criteria of the neovascularisation. Up to 19 vessels were found in 11 5 (89%) tumours. In benign lesions, the number of vessels was signific antly lower than in malignancies (median 3 versus 9, p < 0,0001). The RImin and PImin values between benign and malignant tumours were also significantly different, independent of the menopausal status. In post menopausal patients, the median RImin in 42 benign tumours was 0.62 (0 .26-1.0) and in 41 malignancies 0.40 (0.22-0.66). The median PImin was 0.98 (0.31-5.84) in benign tumours and 0.53 (0.25-1.22) in malignant tumours. However, due to the overlapping range between benign and mali gnant tumours, these parameters do not allow an accurate differentiati on. With a cut off value for RImin = 0.5 and PImin = 0.7, the sensitiv ity is 85% or 82.5% respectively. The specificity for RImin and PImin is 77%, and the diagnostic accuracy is 84% and 80% respectively. The c orrelation coefficient between RImin and PImin is 0.99 in benign and m alignant tumours and both indices are adequate. The calculation of the RI is more easily available and should be preferred as a diagnostic p arameter.