Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-2-10
pubmed:abstractText
The objectives of this study were to analyze the decay constant (tau) of the Doppler flow waveform in ovarian tumors; to determine if differences in this constant can discriminate between malignant and benign ovarian tumors; and to compare the decay constant to the known resistive index (RI), in order to determine its potential prognostic application. Patients with ovarian masses (46) were evaluated in a retrospective study; 13 had malignant tumors, 7 showed tumors with low malignant potential (LMP), 11 had benign masses, 4 had secondary ovarian metastases and 11 had functional ovarian masses. Doppler flow waves measured in the ovary before operation were analyzed from archival videotapes. The RI was calculated preoperatively, and the decay constant of the flow waveform was analyzed retrospectively. We approximated the decaying portion of the flow waveform from the systolic peak to the diastolic level to an exponential curve. Then, the decay constant associated with the flow signal was compared for different types of ovarian pathology. Ovaries with malignancies showed significantly higher mean values for the decay constant (89.7; 95% confidence interval 60.0-119.3) than those with benign tumors (41.8; 25.7-57.9) (p < 0.007), where tau is provided in pixels (in this study each pixel equals approximately 11.4 ms). The mean RI value for malignant tumors was 0.44 +/- 0.12 whereas, in benign tumors, it was 0.622 +/- 0.11. For the benign tumors, both tau and RI did not differ significantly from the measured indices in LMP tumors, metastases and functional ovarian findings. In addition, when the cutoff value of tau was set at 48, 92.3% of all malignancies were identifiable using only tau. This preliminary study indicates that the decay constant of the Doppler flow waveform is able to discriminate between malignant and benign masses and may, thus, provide substantial assistance as an additional parameter in the diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors in postmenopausal patients.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0301-5629
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
23
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1171-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
Decay constant of Doppler flow waveform as a possible indicator of ovarian malignancy.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't