THE ASSESSMENT OF BENIGN UTERINE-TUMOR VASCULARIZATION BY TRANSVAGINAL COLOR DOPPLER

Transvaginal color flow Doppler was used to study uterine flow and fibroid arterial supply. These studies were carried out in 101 patients with palpable uterine fibroids and 60 women attending the clinic for annual checkups. Blood flow impedance expressed as resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and blood velocity are calculated from the 5th to the 8th day of the menstrual calendar. Increased blood velocity and decreased RI and PI in both uterine arteries occurred in patients with uterine fibroids. The same technique was also used to study blood flow in the main arteries supplying identifiable fibroid. Diastolic flow in these arteries was always present and increased in comparison with uterine artery blood flow. The difference in uterine artery blood flow between patients with fibroids and healthy volunteers is statistically significant and may have predictable value in growth rate evaluation of the benign uterine mass.