The value of transvaginal color Doppler in the assessment of pelvic inflammatory disease

• Published in: Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 733 - 738
• Main Authors: Kupesic, Sanja, Kurjak, Asim, Pasalic, Lejla, Benic, Stjepan, Ilijas, Marijan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 1995
• Subjects: Abdominal Pain - etiology; Acute and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease; Acute Disease; Adnexa Uteri - blood supply; Adnexa Uteri - diagnostic imaging; Adnexa Uteri - pathology; Adult; Blood Flow Velocity; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female - etiology; Laparoscopy; Middle Aged; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - complications; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - diagnostic imaging; Transvaginal color and pulsed Doppler; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; Vagina; Transvaginal color and pulsed Doppler; Acute and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease
• ISSN: 0301-5629; 1879-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/0301-5629(95)00013-H

This study compares transvaginal color and pulsed Doppler (TVCD), laparoscopic and clinical findings in 102 women with proven pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Seventy-two (72) of them had acute symptoms, 11 presented with chronic pelvic pain and 19 patients were infertility cases suspected of tubal etiology. Uterine sonographic findings were demonstrated in 72 patients (70.6%). Free fluid in the cul-desac was demonstrated in 39 (38.2%) patients. Ovarian enlargement as the only finding was demonstrated in 6 (5.9%) patients, 22 (21.6%) presented with tubular adnexal structure, while in 74 (72.5%) patients it was of a complex nature. Color flow was obtained in all 6 patients presenting with ovarian enlargement, in 12 (54.5%) of those presenting with tubular adnexal structure, and in 56 (75.7%) of those with complex adnexal mass. Ovarian morphology was clearly delineated from adnexal mass in 59 patients (55.9%). The ipsilateral ovarian flow was altered in 50 of them (84.7%). The mean resistance index (RI) in patients with acute symptoms was 0.53 ± 0.09 (±SD). It significantly differed from those obtained in patients with chronic pelvic pain (RI = 0.71 ± 0.07) and infertility cases (RI = 0.73 ± 0.09). We concluded that transvaginal color Doppler is useful additional tool in diagnosis and treatment monitoring in patients with PID.