Role of colour doppler sonography in adnexal masses

Objective: To evaluate the role of colour Doppler sonography in differentiating between benign and malignant adnexal masses. Materials & Methods: One hundred women diagnosed with adnexal masses underwent colour Doppler sonography. Resistance index (RI) and Pulsatility index (PI) were calculated in each case and lowest RI and PI obtained at any point in the mass were considered for analysis. Masses which were completely a vascular were considered as benign. Histopathological diagnosis was obtained in each case. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of colour Doppler were calculated. Results: Mean RI and Mean PI were significantly lower in malignant masses (0.34 & 0.95 respectively) as compared to benign masses (0.72 & 1.97 respectively). Out of 81 benign cases, Doppler could correctly diagnose 78 cases as benign, but labelled 3 cases as malignant which were actually benign. Out of 19 malignant cases, 16 cases were correctly diagnosed, whereas 3 cases were missed by Doppler. Our study showed a sensitivity of 84.2%, specificity of 96.3%, positive predictive value of 84.2%, negative predictive value of 96.3% and accuracy of 94% for colour Doppler. Conclusion: Colour Doppler sonography is helpful in differentiating benign from malignant adnexal masses.