Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 19, Issue 10 695-699, Copyright © 2000 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Role of color Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of endometriotic cyst
M. A. Pascual, F. Tresserra, L. Lopez-Marin, A. Ubeda, P. J. Grases and S. Dexeus
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.
We studied the role of color Doppler ultrasonography in the distinction
between endometriomas and other adnexal masses. Three hundred and fifty-two
ovarian lesions were studied, comparing sonographic diagnosis with
pathologic findings. On color Doppler sonography, an endometriotic cyst
usually appeared as a cystic lesion with diffuse internal echoes and low
vascularization. The sensitivity and specificity of color Doppler
transvaginal sonography in detecting endometriotic cysts were 91.8% and
95.3%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 95.5%
and 91.5%, respectively. In our experience, transvaginal sonography with
color Doppler interrogation is a useful technique in the diagnosis of
pathologic ovarian conditions, including cystic endometriosis.
