The Role of Colour Doppler Ultrasound in Differentiation of Benign from Malignant Ovarian Masses

To assess the sensitivity and specificity of colour Doppler ultrasound in characterization of malignancy in ovarian masses.

Time bound prospective observational study undertaken from July 2021 to July 2022 at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Keeping in mind the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 65 patients between age group 18–65 years were studied. The ovarian masses of the selected patients were diagnosed with colour Doppler ultrasound conducted by a single operator. The colour Doppler ultrasound assessment of ovarian tumours was then correlated with the histopathological reports.

During this year-long study period a total of 65 cases were examined and by colour Doppler ultrasound a total of 11 cases were diagnosed with malignant features, of which 7 were confirmed malignant by histopathology (true positive) while 2 came out to be benign (false positive) and 2 cases were determined borderline by histopathology (inconclusive). No malignant masses were diagnosed benign by colour Doppler ultrasound (false negative). Through ultrasound features and correlation with histopathology, we could differentiate malignant tumours from benign ovarian tumours with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 96.36%, PPV of 77.78% and NPV of 100%.

Colour Doppler ultrasound is safe, non-invasive and displays remarkable efficacy in diagnosis of ovarian malignancy As accurate preoperative diagnosis allows sequential operative planning and better postoperative management, colour Doppler should always be used in combination with grayscale USG as the first diagnostic modality in patients with ovarian tumours with an aim to decrease the overall mortality due to ovarian tumours.