Doppler Index for Prediction of Benign and Malignant Ovarian Tumour

Abstract

Objective To determine the sensitivity and specificity of pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) by colour Doppler ultrasound for prediction of benign and malignant ovarian tumour.

Methods A total of 181 non-pregnant women scheduled for elective surgery due to ovarian tumour at Chiang Mai University Hospital between February 1995 and October 1996 were recruited to the study. All underwent colour Doppler ultrasound to determine the Pl and RI by the same examiner on the day before operation. Nine were excluded because of pathological diagnosis of non-ovarian tumour. The remaining 172 women were analyzed.

Results The appropriate cut-off point value for Pl and RI were 1.0 and 0.5, giving the sensitivity of 93.5% and 80.4% and the specificity of 91.3% and 93.7% respectively.

Conclusion Pl and RI by colour Doppler ultrasound have high sensitivity and specificity and may be a useful clinical tool in the preoperative evaluation of ovarian masses.