ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Ultrasonography features and screening of ovarian masses in reproductive-age women

Spiridonova NV, Demura AA, Katyushina VO
About authors

Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia

Correspondence should be addressed: Alina A. Demura
pr. Maslennikova 25, Samara, 443056; ur.ay@182anil

About paper

Acknowledgements: the authors thank Komarova MV, Cand. Sci. (Biol.) and Associate Professor at the Samara State Medical University for her invaluable help with statistical analysis

Author contribution: all authors equally contributed to the study at its every stage.

Received: 2020-02-12 Accepted: 2020-03-28 Published online: 2020-03-14
|

Ovarian neoplasms can develop at any age, carry a high risk for malignant transformation, reduce the reproductive potential of a woman and are an indication for surgery. The search for optimal screening algorithms for ovarian tumors is still ongoing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic efficacy of ultrasonography (US) features in differentiating between benign, malignant and borderline tumors in reproductive-age women. We examined 168 reproductive-age women with ovarian masses who underwent surgery in 2012–2015 and compared the results of histopathological examinations with pulsed-Doppler US findings. We did not establish a correlation between the size/volume of the tumor and their morphological structure. We identified the echotexture characteristics associated with malignancy, including the presence of a solid component (р < 0.001); septations (р = 0.029) and projections on the internal surface of the tumor capsule (р < 0.001); moderate or significant buildup of free fluid in the small pelvis (р = 0.007), and the nodular surface of the tumor capsule (р = 0.008). Solid ovarian masses were at increased (31.69-fold) risk of transformation into malignant or borderline tumors, whereas for a mixed (cystic and solid) type the risk of such transformation increased 3.46-fold. We also identified Doppler parameters that can clearly discriminate between benign and malignant growths, including the blood flow rate in the tumor over 1.85 cm/s (р = 0.007) and RMI over 0.16 (р = 0.013). The sensitivity and specificity of our diagnostic model are 87% and 68%, respectively, with a probability threshold of 0.3.

Keywords: ovarian tumors, screening, ultrasound, risk of malignancy, ovarian tumor echotexture, Doppler ultrasonography, blood flow characteristics

КОММЕНТАРИИ (0)