The Role of Doppler Ultrasound in the Differentiation between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Mass

Abstract

Abstract:Objective: To detect the accuracy of Doppler ultrasound in differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian masses and support real indication for laparotomy in woman who had ovarian mass. Design: A cross-section study from July 2001 to October 2002.Setting: Department of the obstetric and gynecology in AL Yarmouk teaching hospital .Patients and methods: Fourty women with known adnexial masses admitted for surgery were examined pre operatively by ultrasound for any complexity, cystic with solid component, number of cyst compartment, free fluid in pouch of Douglas.The Doppler ultrasonography used to assess the vascularity of the mass RI (resistance index) and P1 (pulsatility index) of the detected vessels are measured.Surgery was performed in form of ovarian cystectomy, oophorectomy or total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy and their specimen subjected to histopathological examination.Results: Thirty-two of the cases are benign ovarian tumors and the other 8 cases are malignant ovarian tumors by correlation between Doppler findings & histological findings we found the benign had high resistance index R1>0.4.Conclusion: Doppler ultrasonography is helpful in distinguishing benign from malignant tumors.Cut off 0.4 & 1.0 for RI & PI respectively give high sensitivity & specificity for prediction of malignancy in an adnexial mass.