TRANSVAGINAL PULSED AND COLOR DOPPLER IN GYNECOLOGY - OVARIAN BLOOD-FLOW

Recently, pulsed Doppler has become available on high resolution vaginal ultrasound probes for studying ovarian blood flow Doppler studies of ovarian blood flow are based on: - semiquantitative analysis of Doppler flow waves recorded over the ovarian artery at its entry into the ovary - color Doppler mapping of intraovarian vessels. Semiquantitative analysis of the ovarian artery Doppler flow waves suffers from frequent difficulties at properly identifying the ovarian artery, particularly in multiparous women. Mapping of intraovarian vessels however, appears a most promising feature of vaginal Doppler for studying ovarian blood flow, provided that the proper ultrasound equipment is used. Specifically, transvaginal color Doppler mapping of intraovarian vessels allows for a positive visual detection of the onset of the ovulatory process prior to the actual follicular rupture. Thus, color Doppler mapping of ovarian vessels permits an improved and simplified approach for timing intercourses and inseminations in infertility patients. In controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) used for in vitro fertilization (IVF), mapping of intraovarian vessels by color Doppler offers a fascinating new insight into normal and pathological responses of ovarian follicles to hCG. Finely, color Doppler appears a very promising asset to transvaginal ultrasounds for sorting suspicious ovarian cysts from their benign counter parts. In conclusion, we think that vaginal Doppler should be considered as a marvellous refinement of ultrasounds rather than as a truly new diagnostic tool. Yet vaginal color Doppler carries the potential for markedly improving the sensitivity and the specificity of vaginal ultrasound, particularly for diagnosing benign from potentially malignant ovarian conditions.