Tumor angiogenesis assessed by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound in early, advanced and metastatic ovarian cancer: a preliminary study

摘要

Objective To evaluate tumor vascularity by threedimensionalpower Doppler ultrasound (3D-PDU) inearly and advanced stage primary ovarian cancers andin metastatic tumors to the ovary.Patients and methods This was a retrospective analysisof clinical and sonographic data from 49 womenwith primary ovarian cancers or metastatic tumors tothe ovary. All women underwent 3D-PDU prior tosurgery. Vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) andvascularization flow index (VFI) from solid portions orpapillary projections in the tumors were calculated usingthe Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCALTM)program. Definitive histological diagnosis was obtainedin each case.Results Among the 49 women, 10 had stage I primarycancers (five low-malignant potential tumors and fiveinvasive tumors), 26 had advanced stage primary ovariancancers and 13 had metastatic tumors to the ovary. MeanVI and VFI were significantly higher in advanced stagetumors and metastatic tumors as compared with earlystage tumors. No differences in 3D-PDU indices werefound between advanced stage and metastatic cancers.Conclusions Vascular indices derived from 3D-PDU tendto be higher in advanced stage and metastatic ovariancancers as compared with early stage ovarian tumors.