Fleischer A C, Cullinan J A, Jones H W, Page D L
Department of Radiology & Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-2675, USA.
Ultrasound Med Biol. 1996;22(5):555-9. doi: 10.1016/0301-5629(96)00043-9.
This study correlates the color Doppler sonography (CDS) findings in ovarian masses according to histomorphologic groups. Sixty-two surgically excised ovarian masses (31 benign and 31 malignant) in patients who underwent CDS were retrospectively reviewed. Lowest pulsatility index (PI) was used in benign and malignant unilocular cysts, septated cysts, predominantly cystic masses with solid components, predominantly solid masses with cystic areas and solid masses. The mean of the lowest PIs of benign lesions (1.7 +/- 0.7) were statistically significantly different (p < 0.05) from malignancies (0.7 +/- 0.3). The group of septated cysts (1.8 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.61 +/- 0.3) and predominantly cystic masses with solid areas (1.1 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.2) achieved statistical significance for benign vs. malignant masses. Predominantly solid masses with cystic areas (1.8 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.2) and solid masses (1.4 +/- 1.0 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.3) were not statistically significantly different. Because of a limited number of cases, statistically significant differences in the mean of the lowest PIs of benign vs. malignant unilocular cysts (2.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.9) could not be determined. When analyzed according to histomorphology, CDS findings were of predictive value in certain morphologies and not as much in others. This fact should be taken into account when evaluating an ovarian mass for malignancy with CDS.
