Low dose Computed Tomography Perfusion study to Differentiate Between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Tumors

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OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of Low-dose perfusion computed tomography (PCT) in differentiating benign and malignant ovarian tumors. STUDY DESIGN: Low-dose PCT (80 kVp and 120 mAs on a 256-slice CT scanner) was performed on fifty-one pathologically proven benign and malignant ovarian tumors. The PCT parameters calculated were blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), time to maximum (T max), mean transit time (MTT), and flow extraction product (FED). Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the association between these PCT parameters and histopathological diagnosis. RESULTS: The study comprised 31 pathologically confirmed malignant and 20 benign ovarian tumors. The mean BF, BV, and FED values were elevated in malignant tumors and showed statistically significant association (p<0.001). However, MTT and T max were not statistically significant. The average radiation dose for the entire study was 13.5 mSv, slightly lower than that of standard NCCT and CECT abdomen scans performed for staging purposes. CONCLUSION: Low-dose PCT parameters (BF, BV, and FED) can play a significant role in differentiating benign from malignant ovarian tumors.