Abstract
Weekly serum beta-hCG measurements and transvaginal ultrasound scans coupled with color Doppler flow were performed on 8 patients with hydatidiform mole. Two patients later developed persistent trophoblastic disease, necessitating chemotherapy. The correlation coefficients between Doppler flow indices, systolic-diastolic (S/D) ratio and pulsatility index (PI) with log beta-hCG were -0.96 and -0.97, respectively. The weekly S/D and PI indices were plotted on an individual curve. Only the 2 patients who developed persistent gestational trophoblastic disease had PI index levels of < or = 1.5 as early as 2 weeks after molar evacuation. At that stage their serum beta-hCG levels were not different from some of the other patients. In this preliminary report, the regression of the disease could be reliably assessed by observing the changes in low resistance flow which paralleled the gradual decrements in serial beta-hCG levels. Thus, the contribution of this noninvasive imaging technique encourages the authors to further investigate Doppler flow monitoring among a larger sample of patients suffering from various gestational trophoblastic diseases.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call