Diagnosis of borderline ovarian cancers in pregnancy

Borderline ovarian tumors make up about 10 to 15% of all epithelial ovarian tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Doppler ultrasound for adnexal masses in pregnancy by verifying histological lesions after surgery.

We analysed Doppler flows of ovarian cystic tumors in pregnancy. In cases of cystectomy in pregnancy, cesarean section and puerperium the obtained histopathological findings were analysed.

For one year nine women were observed, primiparas, who had adnexal cystic tumefactions with pathological Doppler indexes, i.e. resistent index of the ovaries under 0.50 and ovarian capsules from 0.30 to 0.40. Delivery ended surgically and histopathological results (ex tempore of analysis) revealed borderline adenocarcinoma.

Even though our series was very small, considering that cysts in pregnancy are not common it is necessary to consider the significance of Doppler flow following the diagnosis so therapeutic measures can be timely determined and morbidity and mortality decreased.