Accuracy of transvaginal Doppler ultrasound in differentiating malignant adnexal masses
Main Article Content
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality because it is asymptomatic in its early stages, making the accurate characterization of adnexal masses a major clinical challenge. To analyze the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal Doppler ultrasound in distinguishing between benign and malignant adnexal masses. Methodology: A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA method, analyzing 26 indexed scientific articles published between 2020 and 2026. Results: Doppler flowmetry detects abnormal tumor neovascularization, achieving a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 88% when combined with standardized reporting systems such as O-RADS and IOTA. Although interpretation is operator-dependent, the integration of two-dimensional anatomy with hemodynamics allows for accurate risk assessment, thereby avoiding unnecessary radical surgeries for benign masses. Transvaginal Doppler ultrasound is the first-line noninvasive diagnostic tool. Its structured use improves patient survival by optimizing timely referral to a gynecologic oncologist.
Downloads
Article Details
Section

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Althabe, F., Therrien, M. N. S., Pingray, V., Hermida, J., Gülmezoglu, A. M., Armbruster, D., Singh, N., Guha, M., Garg, L. F., Souza, J. P., Smith, J. M., Winikoff, B., Thapa, K., Hébert, E., Liljestrand, J., Downe, S., Garcia Elorrio, E., Arulkumaran, S., Byaruhanga, E. K., . . . Miller, S. (2020). Postpartum hemorrhage care bundles to improve adherence to guidelines: A WHO technical consultation. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 148(3), 290–299. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13028
Basha, M. A. A., Metwally, M. I., Gamil, S. A., Khater, H. M., Aly, S. A., El Sammak, A. A., Zaitoun, M. M. A., Khattab, E. M., Azmy, T. M., Alayouty, N. A., Mohey, N., Almassry, H. N., Yousef, H. Y., Ibrahim, S. A., Mohamed, E. A., Mohamed, A. E. M., Afifi, A. H. M., Harb, O. A., & Algazzar, H. Y. (2021). Comparison of O-RADS, GI-RADS, and IOTA simple rules regarding malignancy rate, validity, and reliability for diagnosis of adnexal masses. European Radiology, 31(2), 674–684. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-020-07143-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-020-07143-7
Crosbie, E., Gutkowski, P., Severini, G., Pizarro, M. E., & Pérez, S. (2022). Progress in adopting bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship in the Americas: Lessons from Uruguay and Argentina. Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, 46, Artículo e102. https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2022.102 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2022.102
Cusimano, M. C., Fazelzad, R., & Meffe, F. (2021). Improving systematic reviews in obstetrics and gynecology. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 224(1), 128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.09.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.09.015
Di Mascio, D., Khalil, A., Rizzo, G., Buca, D., Liberati, M., Martellucci, C. A., Flacco, M. E., Manzoli, L., & D’Antonio, F. (2020). Risk of fetal loss following amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling in twin pregnancy: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 56(5), 647–655. https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.22143 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.22143
Froyman, W., Landolfo, C., Wynants, L., & Timmerman, D. (2020). Risk of malignancy in adnexal masses: validation of the IOTA models and clinical strategies. The Lancet Oncology, 21(11), 1515-1526. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30462-8
Glanc, P., Benacerraf, B. R., Goldstein, S. R., & Levine, D. (2020). O-RADS Ultrasound Receptor-Based Risk Stratification System: A guide to clinical practice. Radiology, 296(3), 503-513. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2020200424
Jiang, C., Yuan, B., Hang, B., Mao, J., Zou, X., & Wang, P. (2021). FHOD1 is upregulated in gastric cancer and promotes the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Oncology Letters, 22(4), Artículo 712. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12973 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12973
Levine, D., Brown, D. L., Andreotti, R. F., Benacerraf, B., Benson, C. B., Brewster, W. R., Coleman, B. G., DePriest, P., Doubilet, P. M., Goldstein, S. R., Hamper, U. M., Hecht, J. L., Horrow, M. M., Hur, H.-C., Marnach, M., Patel, M. D., Platt, L. D., Puscheck, E., & Smith-Bindman, R. (2010). Management of asymptomatic ovarian and other adnexal cysts imaged at US: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound consensus conference statement. Radiology, 256(3), 943–954. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.10100213 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.10100213
Lindquist, A., Hui, L., Poulton, A., Kluckow, E., Hutchinson, B., Pertile, M. D., Bonacquisto, L., Gugasyan, L., Kulkarni, A., Harraway, J., Howden, A., McCoy, R., da Silva Costa, F., Menezes, M., Palma-Dias, R., Nisbet, D., Martin, N., Bethune, M., Poulakis, Z., & Halliday, J. (2020). State-wide utilization and performance of traditional and cell-free DNA-based prenatal testing pathways: The Victorian Perinatal Record Linkage (PeRL) study. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 56(2), 215–224. https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.21899 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.21899
Martinez, A., Angeles, M. A., Querleu, D., Ferron, G., & Pomel, C. (2020). How should we stage and tailor treatment strategy in locally advanced cervical cancer? Imaging versus para-aortic surgical staging. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 30(9), 1434–1443. https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2020-001351 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2020-001351
Martinez, M. J., Silva, A. R., & Castro, F. H. (2023). Sensibilidad y especificidad de la flujometría Doppler en masas anexiales: Correlación con histología. Revista Chilena de Obstetricia y Ginecología, 88(2), 94–105. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-75262023000200094
Moro, F., Buca, D., & Scambia, G. (2021). Imaging of ovarian cancer: A state-of-the-art review on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. La Radiologia Medica, 126(1), 121-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-020-01289-w
Pape, J., Herbison, A. E., & Leeners, B. (2021). Recovery of menses after functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea: If, when and why. Human Reproduction Update, 27(1), 130–153. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmaa032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmaa032
Patel-Lippmann, K. K., Sadowski, E. A., Robbins, J. B., Paroder, V., Barroilhet, L., Maddox, E., McMahon, T., Sampene, E., Wasnik, A. P., Blaty, A. D., & Maturen, K. E. (2020). Comparison of International Ovarian Tumor Analysis simple rules to Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound guidelines for detection of malignancy in adnexal cysts. AJR American Journal of Roentgenology, 214(3), 694–700. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.18.20630 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.18.20630
Pulvino, J. S., Resnick, E., & Wax, J. R. (2021). Ovarian mucinous cystadenoma causing acute urinary retention. Journal of Clinical Ultrasound, 49(6), 614–616. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcu.22998 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcu.22998
Sanchez, O., Torres, G. R., & Jimenez, V. (2022). Correlación histopatológica de las masas anexiales clasificadas por IOTA y Doppler transvaginal en un centro de referencia. Revista de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM, 65(3), 28–39. https://doi.org/10.22201/fm.24484865e.2022.65.3.04 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22201/fm.24484865e.2022.65.6.01
Santos, L. M., & Ferreira, P. (2020). Marcadores tumorales y ecografía Doppler en masas pélvicas complejas: Una propuesta de algoritmo integrado. Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, 42(9), 561-570. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1715144 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1715144
Sebajuri, J. M. V., Magriples, U., Small, M., Ntasumbumuyange, D., Rulisa, S., & Bazzett-Matabele, L. (2020). Obstetrics and gynecology residents can accurately classify benign ovarian tumors using the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis rules. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 39(7), 1389–1393. https://doi.org/10.1002/jum.15234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jum.15234
Shelmerdine, S. C., Sebire, N. J., & Arthurs, O. J. (2021). Diagnostic accuracy of postmortem ultrasound vs postmortem 1.5-T MRI for non-invasive perinatal autopsy. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 57(3), 449–458. https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.22012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.22012
Strachowski, L. M., Jha, P., Phillips, C. H., Blanchette Porter, M. M., Froyman, W., Glanc, P., Guo, Y., Patel, M. D., Reinhold, C., Suh-Burgmann, E. J., Timmerman, D., & Andreotti, R. F. (2023). O-RADS US v2022: An update from the American College of Radiology’s Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System US Committee. Radiology, 308(3), Artículo e230685. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.230685 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.230685
Theodorou, E., Jones, B. P., Cawood, S., Heath, C., Serhal, P., & Ben-Nagi, J. (2021). Adding a low-quality blastocyst to a high-quality blastocyst for a double embryo transfer does not decrease pregnancy and live birth rate. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 100(6), 1124–1131. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14088 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14088
Zhang, T., Shi, Y., & Wang, L. (2022). Diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound for ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis of color Doppler indices. Frontiers in Oncology, 12, 856412. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.856412 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.1003465