Comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating ovarian tumor blood vessels

Our study was to evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) in analyzing the blood vessels associated with ovarian tumors.

A total of 100 patients with ovarian tumors underwent CEUS and CE-MRI before surgery. After surgery, the resected ovarian tissues were evaluated via immunohistochemistry to calculate the tumor microvessel density (MVD), and the correlation between the parameters of CEUS and CE-MRI and MVD in ovarian tumors was determined.

The MVD level between ovarian tumors was significantly different (p = 0.03); the peak intensity (PI) and area under the curve (AUC) of CEUS parameters in malignant tumors were significantly higher than those in benign tumors (p = 0.03, p = 0.03); and were significantly positively correlated with MVD (r = 0.57, p = 0.00; r = 0.50, p = 0.00). The Ktrans and Ve of CE-MRI parameters in malignant tumors were significantly higher than those in benign tumors (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04), and were also significantly positively correlated with MVD (r = 0.66, p = 0.00; r = 0.55, p = 0.00). Moreover, there was no significant difference between CEUS and CE-MRI in terms of sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) in malignant ovarian tumors (p > 0.05).

Both CEUS and CE-MRI parameters can reflect the MVD level in ovarian tumors; therefore, CEUS is expected to become a viable alternative approach for evaluating ovarian tumors.