Echo-enhanced Doppler sonography of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver.

Lesions of focal nodular hyperplasia are hypervascular, benign focal liver lesions whose differentiation from other focal liver lesions is of significant clinical relevance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the echo-enhancing agent SHU 508A (Levovist) in the evaluation of focal nodular hyperplasia with Doppler sonography. We examined 49 patients with 71 lesions of focal nodular hyperplasia in the liver with gray scale and power Doppler sonography. In all patients Levovist was administered intravenously in a concentration of 300 to 400 mg galactose per milliliter. Visualization of the feeding vessels and the vascularity of the lesions were evaluated, and the resistive indices in the feeders and the hepatic arteries were assessed. In comparison with unenhanced power Doppler sonography, echo-enhanced power Doppler sonography yields a higher sensitivity in the detection of the feeding artery (97% versus 82%) in focal nodular hyperplasia and in the depiction of the radial vascular architecture in such lesions, especially those located in the left lobe of the liver. Lesions less than 3 cm in diameter do not consistently show a characteristic vascular architecture with echo-enhanced Doppler sonography. The resistive index of the tumor-feeding artery (mean, 0.51 +/- 0.09) is significantly (P < 0.0001) lower than that of the hepatic artery (mean, 0.65 +/- 0.06) and decreases as the size of the focal nodular hyperplasia increases. The administration of Levovist may improve the signal-to-noise ratio and thus visualization of the vascular architecture in focal nodular hyperplasia. Lesions located in the left lobe of the liver, which commonly are subject to disturbing motion artifacts in color Doppler sonography, will significantly benefit from the administration of Levovist. Echo-enhanced power Doppler sonography, however, is not capable of depicting a characteristic vascular pattern in small (< or = 3 cm) lesions of focal nodular hyperplasia that would guarantee a specific diagnosis.     

Echo-enhanced color Doppler sonography in children and adolescents.

Fifty-one patients, with a range of underlying pathologic conditions, were studied prospectively to assess the diagnostic value of echo-enhanced color Doppler sonography in the pediatric and adolescent population Their diagnoses included various tumors, vascular disorders, cerebral bleeding, pathologic conditions of small parts, and focal lesions of parenchymal organs. All patients underwent color Doppler sonography before proceeding to echo-enhanced color Doppler sonography. Diagnoses were confirmed by additional imaging (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, angiography, and scintigraphy) performed as appropriate, with or without histologic study. An additional 20 children did not proceed to echoenhanced color Doppler sonography as color Doppler sonography alone was found to be sufficiently diagnostic. Levovist (SHU 508A), a contrast agent based on galactose-encapsulated air microbubbles, is approved for pediatric applications in Austria and was used as the echo-enhancing agent. Echo-enhanced color Doppler sonography was performed a total of 63 times in 51 patients (mean age, 9.8 years). Compared to color Doppler sonography, echo-enhanced color Doppler sonography either detected or enhanced visualization of pathologic conditions in 55 investigations (87.3%), yielding an overall accuracy of 95.2% (sensitivity, 95%), versus 65.7% with color Doppler sonography. One spinal arteriovenous malformation, one cerebral cavernoma, and one liver lesion were missed. The contrast material was easy to administer; no adverse reactions were observed. We conclude that echoenhanced color Doppler sonography is beneficial in pediatric sonography. It enhances visualization of vessels and perfusion, thus offering a nonionizing imaging tool for detection and follow-up evaluation of pathologic conditions with disturbed vasculature in specific cases. In infants and in persons with superficial lesions it did not offer significant advantages over color Doppler sonography.     

Color and power Doppler sonography of liver hemangiomas: a dream unfulfilled?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether color Doppler or power Doppler sonography can aid in the diagnosis of hepatic cavernous hemangiomas. METHODS: We imaged 25 hepatic cavernous hemangiomas in 17 patients with gray-scale, color Doppler, and power Doppler sonography. Five malignant lesions were also imaged in the same manner for reference. Hemangiomas had been previously diagnosed by biopsy in 8 patients (15 lesions) and by CT, MRI, and/or tagged red blood cell scanning in 9 patients (10 lesions). RESULTS: Of the 25 hemangiomas, color or power Doppler imaging showed no internal blood flow in 23. Of these 23 lesions, 11 showed a peripheral flow pattern believed to represent flow in displaced blood vessels. This pattern was better visualized with power Doppler imaging in 3 lesions and equally well visualized with color and power Doppler imaging in 8 lesions. Two hemangiomas that had unusual central fibrosis with large vessels in 1 patient showed diffusely increased blood flow on power Doppler study. All 5 malignant lesions showed flow in peripheral vessels, and 1 showed internal vascularity as well. CONCLUSIONS: Neither color nor power Doppler imaging improved the capability of sonography for making a specific diagnosis of benign hepatic cavernous hemangioma.     

低回声型肝血管瘤的彩色多普勒超声检测

目的　探讨彩色多普勒超声在诊断低回声型血管瘤中的应用价值。方法　应用二维超声、彩色多普勒血流图 (CDFI)、彩色能量多普勒血流图 (PDI) ,结合脉冲多普勒频谱对 18例共 2 2个低回声型肝血管瘤进行研究。结果　 CDFI对低回声型肝血管瘤内血流显示率 2 7.2 7% ,PDI对低回声型肝血管瘤血流显示率 90 .91%。动脉血流检出率为 2 2 .73%。“病灶染色” 9个 (40 .91% )。低回声型肝血管瘤血流呈低速 ,阻力指数 (RI) <0 .6(6 0 % )。结论　彩色多普勒超声对低回声型肝血管瘤的诊断和鉴别诊断有重要价值。     

超声造影功率多普勒谐频成像在肝肿瘤诊断中的应用

目的：评价功率（俗称“能量”）多普勒超声造影检测肝肿瘤内血流信号的能力。方法：对未治疗的56例57个肝脏占位性病变进行超声造影功率多普勒谐频成像检查，其中原发性肝癌47个，胆管细胞性肝癌3个，转移性肝癌3个，肝血管瘤2个，肝局灶性结节增生2个。所有病人注射造影剂后于早期动脉相观察肿瘤内的血流灌注情况，并与动态增强CT结果比较。结果：功率多普勒谐频成像显示肝肿瘤内造影增强80．7％（46／57）、负性增强19．3％（11／57）。与动态增强CT相比，功率多普勒谐频成像显示肿瘤内血流信号的敏感性、特异性和准确性分别为83．6％、100％和84．2％。肿瘤的深度是影响谐频成像结果的重要因素。结论：对一定深度范围内的肝肿瘤，功率多普勒谐频成 像可以敏感而准确地显示不同肝肿瘤的血流灌注情况，估计肿瘤血供特点，有助于肝肿瘤的诊断和鉴别诊断。     

利声显对肝、肾、子宫肿瘤血流信号增强作用的研究

目的　评价利声显对肝、肾、子宫肿瘤彩色多普勒信号的增强作用。方法　对３５ 例原发性肝癌、５ 例继发性肝癌、３ 例肝血管瘤、１ 例肝硬化结节、３ 例肾癌、３ 例子宫肌瘤进行研究。将７ ｍｌ 浓度为３００ ｍｇ／ｍｌ 的利声显由外周静脉注入,观察肿瘤彩色多普勒信号增强程度及脏器实质区图像。结果　３２ 例原发性肝癌和１ 例较大的胆囊转移性肝癌的彩色多普勒信号明显增强,肝血管瘤的略增强,肝硬化结节的无增强,肾癌和子宫肌瘤的增强均好,且实质区图像改善,于４ 例原发性肝癌患者的肝区内又探及新的小病灶。结论　利声显对肝、肾、子宫肿瘤的血流信号均有增强作用,它对判断肿瘤的血供情况、分析肿瘤的病理性质,提高超声诊断的敏感性很有益处。     

Usefulness of power Doppler and contrast-enhanced sonography in the differentiation of hyperechoic renal masses

Background: In a prospective study, we compared power Doppler with and without contrast medium in the depiction of vascularity for the characterization of hyperechoic renal lesions. Methods: Forty-one hyperechoic renal expansive lesions (29 benign, 12 malignant) in 32 patients were studied with power-Doppler ultrasonography before and after administration of an echo-enhancing agent (Levovist Schering AG, Berlin, Germany). Vascular architecture of the lesions was categorized into five different patterns. Results: Power Doppler ultrasonography showed vascular structures in 25 lesions. The study enhanced with Levovist showed vascularity in eight of 16 lesions not seen on the unenhanced study. The characterization of vascular patterns with unenhanced power Doppler ultrasonography improved diagnostic accuracy compared with gray-scale ultrasonography (59% vs. 32%). The combination of B mode and power Doppler produced even greater diagnostic accuracy (78%), independent of the administration of echo-enhancing agent. Levovist administration was useful in the differential diagnosis between pseudotumor and neoplasm. Conclusion: The use of songraphic contrast agent did not increase the diagnostic accuracy of power Doppler in the differential diagnosis of hyperechoic renal lesions but was advantageous for the characterization of suspected pseudomasses. Received: 6 September 2000/Accepted: 13 December 2000     

Contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography of ductal pancreatic adenocarcinomas: correlation with digital subtraction angiography findings

PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective study was to utilize contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography to evaluate the enhancement characteristics of ductal pancreatic adenocarcinomas and correlate them with the tumor vascularity observed on digital subtraction angiography (DSA). METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients with ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent power Doppler sonography and DSA. Tumor vascularity was assessed using unenhanced and contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography. The contrast agent Levovist was administered intravenously by bolus injection of a dose of 2.5 g at a concentration of 350 mg/mL; saline was administered immediately thereafter. The patients were asked to hold their breath for 30 seconds (for the period 15-45 seconds after saline injection) while the early phase of enhancement was studied; the delayed phase of enhancement was observed between 60 and 120 seconds after saline administration, while patients breathed gently. RESULTS: None of the 20 pancreatic carcinomas showed any color signals on power Doppler sonography before administration of the contrast medium. Seventeen (85%) of the 20 pancreatic carcinomas also showed no enhancement in the early and delayed phases of contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography. However, in the early phase of contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography; 1 lesion showed pronounced enhancement and 2 showed mild enhancement. On DSA, the 17 carcinomas showing no enhancement on power Doppler sonography were found to be hypovascular, whereas the remaining 3 carcinomas with contrast enhancement on power Doppler sonography were found to be hypervascular. CONCLUSIONS: The enhancement characteristics of the ductal pancreatic adenocarcinomas correlated well with the tumor vascularity observed on DSA. However, further study is needed to determine the accuracy of contrast-enhanced sonography in the diagnosis of pancreatic masses.     

Contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography of uveal melanomas

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the use of the galactose microbubble-based contrast agent Levovist in color Doppler sonography of uveal melanomas. We also evaluated the use of the resistance index and pulsatility index in differentiating tumor-associated vessels from normal vessels in patients with uveal melanomas. METHODS: In this prospective study, 40 patients with uveal melanoma were examined with color Doppler sonography before and after the administration of the contrast agent Levovist. The Doppler signals were recorded from both the tumor and the orbit and were evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULTS: Tumor-associated vessels were detected without contrast enhancement in 36 of 40 patients and with contrast enhancement in 38 of 40 patients. The spectral characteristics of the Doppler signals did not change after the injection of Levovist. There were no differences-qualitative or quantitative-in Doppler signals between normal and tumor-associated vessels. CONCLUSIONS: The injection of Levovist slightly improved the detection of small vessels in uveal melanomas and the orbit but did not help to differentiate between normal vessels and tumoral vessels. The differentiation of a solid tumor from subretinal hemorrhage or effusion was improved.     

Lumen reduction measurements of the internal carotid artery before and after Levovist enhancement: reproducibility and agreement with angiography.

Our aim was to assess reproducibility of three different lumen reduction measuring methods--North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial, European Carotid Surgery Trial, and common carotid--using power Doppler and color Doppler sonography before and after Levovist enhancement. We included 20 symptomatic patients with mild or severe carotid disease. North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial, European Carotid Surgery Trial, and common carotid measurements on longitudinal views and European Carotid Surgery Trial measurements on transverse views were performed. Examinations were repeated and the results compared to assess reproducibility of measurements. Correlation with angiography was obtained by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients. Reproducibility was significantly better (P < 0.05) for European Carotid Surgery Trial and common carotid measurements (95% limits of agreement between -10% to 10% and -19% to 17%) as compared to North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial measurements (95% limits of agreement between -11% to 21% and -21% to 23%). Variability of measurements after enhancement increased slightly (not significant) for both power and color Doppler sonography. Additionally, European Carotid Surgery Trial measurements, using nonenhanced power Doppler or color Doppler sonography, did not correlate significantly with angiography, whereas North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial and common carotid measurements correlated well with angiography, particularly in power Doppler mode after enhancement (r = 0.88 and r = 0.82, respectively). We conclude that for lumen reduction measurements of the internal carotid artery with power and color Doppler sonography, the common carotid method is the only method that is reproducible and has good correlation with angiography, which slightly improves after Levovist enhancement.     

Clinical utility of color Doppler sonography in the differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma from metastases and hemangioma

The clinical utility of color Doppler sonography in the differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma from metastases and hemangioma was investigated in 72 hepatocellular carcinomas (80 lesions), 30 metastases (82 lesions), and 39 hemangiomas (54 lesions). Overlaps of color patterns were found among hepatocellular carcinoma, metastases and hemangioma. Pulsatile waves from lesions with the basket, vessels within tumor, or spot patterns, or lesions measuring less than 3 cm with detectable signals, did not favor the diagnosis of hemangioma. In conclusion, color Doppler sonography can aid in the differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma from hemangioma but may be unreliable in the differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma from hypervascular metastases.     

经周围静脉注射Levovist彩色多普勒超声造影诊断肝肿瘤的研究

本文采用经周围静脉注射Levovist超声造影检查了30例肝脏肿瘤患者。应用Levovist后，正常肝脏血管彩色多普勒血流显像明显增强，不同的肝脏肿瘤显示了常规彩超检查没有见到的不同的血管形态，11例原发性肝癌肿块中心显示了血管。相反3例肝脏转移癌，在肿瘤周边显示了更多的血流，6例肝脏血管瘤，常规彩超检查未见明确血流，造影后在肿瘤周边见到点状或短条状血流。Levovist对于正常肝脏实质、不同肝脏肿瘤二维图像的增强作用是有差异的，它使肝脏肿瘤显示更清晰。结果表明：Levovist彩色多普勒超产造影对于肝脏肿瘤的诊断具有重要的临床应用价值。     

Hepatocellular carcinoma: therapeutic experience with percutaneous ethanol injection under real-time contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography with the contrast agent Levovist.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with percutaneous ethanol injection under real-time contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography with Levovist (SH U 508A; Nihon Schering, Osaka, Japan) for hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial infusion. METHODS: Twenty patients (17 men and 3 women; mean age, 58.4 years) with 23 hepatocellular carcinoma nodules (mean +/- SD, 2.7 +/- 1.5 cm) underwent percutaneous ethanol injection under real-time contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography 1 week after transcatheter arterial infusion. Therapeutic effects were assessed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography and posttreatment fine-needle biopsy. This study was performed on a prospective basis. RESULTS: After the transcatheter arterial infusion, contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography showed intense intratumoral color signals in all 23 hepatocellular carcinomas. After the percutaneous ethanol injection, contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography, fine-needle biopsy, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed no color signals, no viable tumor tissues, and no enhancement in any of the 23 hepatocellular carcinomas. Three to 5 (mean, 3.3) percutaneous ethanol injection sessions with a 5.2- to 15.6-mL (mean, 12.8-mL) total volume of ethanol per tumor were required for complete disappearance of color signals on contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ethanol injection under real-time contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography has considerable efficacy in treating hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Sonographic features of head and neck hemangiomas and vascular malformations: review of 23 patients

The sonographic features of 23 head and neck hemangiomas and vascular malformations are presented. A focal mass lesion was seen in all patients. The predominant sonographic features were a well-defined hypoechoic mass lesion with heterogeneous echotexture and the presence of cystic and sinusoidal spaces within, as well as the occasional presence of phleboliths. Color Doppler imaging demonstrated flow in 12 of 13 lesions. When performing sonography on soft tissue masses in the head and neck, the presence of color Doppler signal in a well-defined hypoechoic mass with heterogeneous echotexture should raise the possibility of an hemangioma.     

利声显对肝肿瘤血流信号和肝实质区回声增强作用的研究

目的:评价新型利声显对不同肝肿瘤的彩色多普勒信号和肝实质区回声的增强作用。材料和方法:肝肿瘤患者共44例,其中原发性肝癌35例、继发性肝癌5例、肝血管瘤3例、肝硬化结节1例。使用HP Sonos 2500型彩超仪,控头频率2.5MHz。将利声显稀释为浓度为300mg/ml的溶液,由外周静脉注入,持续观察肿瘤彩色多普勒信号增强程度及肝脏实质区回声。结果:彩色多普勒信号增强情况为:32例原发性肝癌和1例较大胆囊转移癌明显增强,3例原发性小结节型肝癌、4例转移性结节性肝癌、2例肝血管瘤轻度增强,肝硬化结节无增强。肝实质区图像清晰度改善,于4例原发性肝癌患者的肝区内又测及新的小病灶。结论:利声显可增强肝肿瘤的血流信号,且不同肝肿瘤的增强程度有差异。它对判断肿瘤的血供情况、初步分析肿瘤的病理性质,提高超声诊断的敏感性很有益处。     

Correlation between color power Doppler sonographic measurement of breast tumor vasculature and immunohistochemical analysis of microvessel density for the quantitation of angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To record the correlation between color power Doppler sonographic measurement of breast tumor vasculature and immunohistochemical analysis of microvessel density for the quantitation of angiogenesis. METHODS: Women with palpable breast masses scheduled for excision biopsy were scanned with two- and three-dimensional color power Doppler sonography before and after the administration of a sonographic contrast agent. Vessel counts were performed on two- and three-dimensional sonographic images before and after contrast agent administration. All tumors were surgically removed and underwent immunohistochemical analysis for microvessel density assessment. The sonographic measure of tumor vascularity was correlated with microvessel density. RESULTS: Pathologic examination showed 43 breast cancers and 14 benign breast masses. Higher microvessel density was noted in malignant than benign breast masses (P < .0005). Color power Doppler sonographic measurement of tumor vessel number showed a significant positive correlation with tumor size (P < .05) and progesterone receptor negativity (P < .05). A significant positive correlation was observed between microvessel density and the number of intratumoral blood vessels assessed by both two- and three-dimensional color power Doppler sonography (P < .05). Regression models showed three-dimensional color power Doppler sonography to have a significantly higher correlation with microvessel density when compared with two-dimensional color power Doppler sonography at baseline (P < .005). The administration of a sonographic contrast agent did not improve correlation with microvessel density. CONCLUSIONS: A significant correlation was shown between color power Doppler sonographic measurement of tumor vascularity and microvessel density by immunohistochemical analysis. Further improvement in Doppler sonographic techniques to map capillary vessel flow should be explored to improve the current association with pathologic findings.     

Quantified color Doppler sonography of tumor vascularity in an animal model.

This study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of a system to quantitate tumor vascularity with amplitude (power) color Doppler sonography two- and three-dimensionally. The vascularity of 20 transplanted murine tumors was determined with quantitated amplitude color Doppler sonography both two- and three-dimensionally and compared to tumor vascularity estimated by histologic examination. Serial examinations were performed 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after the injection of the exotoxin CM-101 and saline solution to assess changes in tumor vascularity. Three-dimensional amplitude color Doppler sonography best depicted the overall vascularity of tumor when compared to histologic estimation of vessel density. However, neither two- nor three-dimensional amplitude color power angiography correlated well to the microvessel count, probably a reflection of the difference in the method for vessel quantification using sonographic versus histologic techniques. Three-dimensional amplitude Doppler sonography correlated better with counts of large vessels (> 100 microm) as opposed to small vessels (> 15 microm). Time-activity curves showed no difference in tumor flow at the times measured in the experimental group injected with CM-101 or when compared to saline solutions in either the peripheral or central portions of the tumor. This three-dimensional amplitude color Doppler sonographic system affords global quantification of tumor vascularity and flow that may, in turn, be useful in determining the probability of malignancy (by determination of branching patterns and vessel regularity) or tumor response or both to treatment.     

Correlation between microbubble contrast-enhanced color doppler sonography and immunostaining for Kupffer cells in assessing the histopathologic grade of hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary results

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the histopathologic grades of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) on the basis of the presence of Kupffer cells, using color Doppler sonography with the liver-specific microbubble contrast agent Levovist. METHODS: Color Doppler sonograms generated by stimulated acoustic emission were obtained 7 minutes after intravenous injection of 5 ml of Levovist (300 mg/dl) in patients with histopathologically confirmed HCCs. CT scans were also obtained and evaluated, and hematoxylin and eosin staining for morphologic examination and immunostaining (anti-CD68) for detecting Kupffer cells were performed for confirmation of the sonographic findings. RESULTS: Eighteen tumors had a defect in the color Doppler signal (color void) that corresponded with the baseline gray-scale image of the tumor. On histopathologic examination, these 18 tumors were all found to be either poorly or moderately differentiated HCCs with either a marked reduction in the number of or the absence of Kupffer cells. The remaining 2 tumors showed color signals. Histopathologic examination of these 2 tumors disclosed well-differentiated components within the tumors, with Kupffer cells in the tumor tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Color Doppler sonography using a liver-specific microbubble ultrasound contrast agent appears to reflect the histopathologic features of HCCs and may thus be useful for differentiating liver tumors and determining a treatment strategy.     

Quantification of tumor vascularity and flow with amplitude color Doppler sonography in an experimental model: preliminary results.

This study was designed to evaluate a system to quantitate vascularity and tumor blood flow with amplitude (power) color Doppler sonography. The vascularity of nine transplanted murine tumors was determined with quantitated amplitude color Doppler sonography and compared to tumor vascularity estimated by histologic examination. The system used seemed to provide an accurate depiction of the vascularity of tumor vis-à-vis histologic estimation of vessel density (r = 0.80). Time-activity curves showed greater flow in the experimental group injected with an exotoxin than in the group injected with saline solution. Vascular density quantification with amplitude color Doppler sonography also was more accurate when an intravascular agent (such as an exotoxin) was used than when saline infusions were given. This quantification scheme may allow the development of a system to assess the probability of malignancy and to monitor tumor response to treatment on the basis of the vascularity of the mass.     

Three-dimensional quantification of tumor vascularity as a tertiary test after B-mode and power Doppler evaluation for detection of ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of 3-dimensional (3D) quantification of tumor vascularity in the differential diagnosis of pelvic indeterminate masses with a solid appearance or unilocular or multilocular cysts with a solid component showing central vascularization on 2-dimensional power Doppler sonography. METHODS: One hundred fifty-seven consecutive pelvic masses in 153 patients were included in this study and underwent sonography before surgery. Masses that showed a typical benign pattern on B-mode sonography (n = 112) and indeterminate masses with peripheral or absent flow on power Doppler sonography (n = 10) were not evaluated by 3D sonography. Only masses with central vascularization were submitted to 3D power Doppler imaging (n = 35). The following 3D vascular parameters were calculated: relative color and flow measure (similar to the vascularization flow index obtained with other systems). RESULTS: With receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the best cutoff values for relative color and flow measure were 4.4 and 2.7, respectively. Flow measure had sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 40% in the overall population submitted to 3D power Doppler sonography. Accuracy slightly increased when masses with small papillary projections (<10 mL) were excluded. In this group (n = 22), sensitivity was 83%, and specificity was 50%. CONCLUSIONS: In masses with central vascularization on 2-dimensional power Doppler sonography, the use of 3D quantification of tumor vascularity had low diagnostic accuracy in the detection of adnexal malignancies, although an increase in accuracy in masses with a solid portion of greater than 10 mL was reported.