Transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography in the presurgical characterization of adnexal masses.

The aim of our study was to evaluate flow-velocity waveforms from ovarian tumors with color Doppler, in order to test the predictivity of malignancy and to compare the Doppler technique with some morphological scoring systems. Color Doppler examination of ovarian neoplasms was performed in 122 patients within 2-3 days from surgery and, based on vascular characteristics and on Doppler resistance index, a "vascular" score was calculated. One hundred one women had benign and 21 had malignant tumors on histopathology. In all of the malignant lesions color Doppler was able to detect vascular patterns, whereas only 43% of the benign tumors showed recognizable vessels (P < 0.001). Malignant masses showed significantly greater vascular scores than those of benign tumors (P < 0.001). Doppler ultrasonography achieved better specificity and PPV when compared to morphological scores (96% vs 61-75% and 82% vs 35-48%). Color Doppler ultrasonography of ovarian tumors seems to be a reliable method in the presurgical characterization of ovarian neoplasms.