OBJECTIVETo assess the value of color Doppler ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and detection of serum CA-125 levels in the differential diagnosis of ovarian masses.

METHODSThe findings of color Doppler ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and the serum levels of CA-125 were comparatively analyzed in 65 patients with ovarian masses, and the diagnostic accuracy of the 3 methods was estimated.

RESULTSOf the 65 cases of ovarian masses, 21 of the 35 patients with benign ovarian masses had serum CA-125 levels below 35 U/ml , and 28 of the 30 patients with malignant masses showed CA-125 levels over 35 U/ml. Color Doppler ultrasonography identified 30 benign and 22 malignant cases, but failed to produce definite results in 13 cases (including 5 with benign and 8 with malignant masses). By contrast-enhanced ultrasound, benign masses were found in 34 cases and malignant masses in 29 cases, and misdiagnosis occurred in 2 cases (including 1 case of thecoma and 1 of ovarian borderline tumor). With serum CA-125 detection, color Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound, the diagnostic sensitivity for ovarian masses was 66.7%, 73.3%, and 96.7%, and the specificity was 60.0%, 85.7%, and 97.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSDetection of serum CA-125 level and ultrasound examinations help in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ovarian masses. Compared with serum CA-125 detection and color Doppler ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound is more informative on perfusion patterns of the ovarian masses to result in higher accuracy in early and differential diagnosis of the ovarian masses.