TRANSVAGINAL COLOR-FLOW DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY IN THE ASSESSMENT OF GESTATIONAL TROPHOBLASTIC DISEASE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood flow characteristics o f the uterine artery and intratumoral vessels in patients with GTD. Tw elve patients with GTD were evaluated with TVS, and 11 also had CFD so nography performed. Spectral analysis of both uterine artery and sampl ed intratumoral and intramyometrial vessels revealed systolic frequenc ies and PI that were significantly higher in the uterine artery than i n sampled intratumoral vessels (P < 0.05). Uterine artery PI correlate d significantly with age (P = 0.043), uterine size (P = 0.003), and be ta-HCG titer (P = 0.03). Intratumoral PI correLated significantly with uterine size (P = 0.05). Intratumoral PI did not correlate with patie nt age, the shape or orientation of the uterus, presence or absence of subendometrial halo, endometrial thickness or echogenicity, or impres sion of myometrial invasion. Regression analysis of BETA-HCG titers on uterine artery and intratumoral PI revealed a linear association. TVS and color flow Doppler sonography are useful in the assessment of pat ients with GTD. The PI is strongly associated with prognosis and corre Lates with BETA-HCG titers.