[Relation between Doppler echo-flowmetry and oncogenic markers in pelvic masses]. / Rapporto tra ecoflussometria Doppler e marker oncogeni nelle masse pelviche.

BACKGROUND: The differential diagnosis between benign and malignant pelvic masses is still difficult and is based on clinical semeiotics and echography, whereas a reliable diagnosis can only be obtained by histological analysis. METHODS: A total of 40 patients were examined using transvaginal Doppler echoflowmetry which was used to evaluate the vascular distribution and intralesional and perilesional flowmetric values. These values were then compared with oncogenic markers and with histological tests of the neoformations. RESULTS: Histological analysis revealed that a flow with high PI is a marker of benignancy, whereas a low PI value tends to show malignancy. On the contrary oncogenic markers reveal a high level of sensitivity but low specificity, especially CA 125.