External Validation of the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS) Lexicon and the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis 2-Step Strategy to Stratify Ovarian Tumors Into O-RADS Risk Groups

Importance

Correct diagnosis of ovarian cancer results in better prognosis. Adnexal lesions can be stratified into the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS) risk of malignancy categories with either the O-RADS lexicon, proposed by the American College of Radiology, or the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) 2-step strategy.

Objective

To investigate the diagnostic performance of the O-RADS lexicon and the IOTA 2-step strategy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Retrospective external diagnostic validation study based on interim data of IOTA5, a prospective international multicenter cohort study, in 36 oncology referral centers or other types of centers. A total of 8519 consecutive adult patients presenting with an adnexal mass between January 1, 2012, and March 1, 2015, and treated either with surgery or conservatively were included in this diagnostic study. Twenty-five patients were excluded for withdrawal of consent, 2777 were excluded from 19 centers that did not meet predefined data quality criteria, and 812 were excluded because they were already in follow-up at recruitment. The analysis included 4905 patients with a newly detected adnexal mass in 17 centers that met predefined data quality criteria. Data were analyzed from January 31 to March 1, 2022.

Exposures

Stratification into O-RADS categories (malignancy risk <1%, 1% to <10%, 10% to <50%, and ≥50%). For the IOTA 2-step strategy, the stratification is based on the individual risk of malignancy calculated with the IOTA 2-step strategy.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Observed prevalence of malignancy in each O-RADS risk category, as well as sensitivity and specificity. The reference standard was the status of the tumor at inclusion, determined by histology or clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up for 1 year. Multiple imputation was used for uncertain outcomes owing to inconclusive follow-up information.

Results

Median age of the 4905 patients was 48 years (IQR, 36-62 years). Data on race and ethnicity were not collected. A total of 3441 tumors (70%) were benign, 978 (20%) were malignant, and 486 (10%) had uncertain classification. Using the O-RADS lexicon resulted in 1.1% (24 of 2196) observed prevalence of malignancy in O-RADS 2, 4% (34 of 857) in O-RADS 3, 27% (246 of 904) in O-RADS 4, and 78% (732 of 939) in O-RADS 5; the corresponding results for the IOTA 2-step strategy were 0.9% (18 of 1984), 4% (58 of 1304), 30% (206 of 690), and 82% (756 of 927). At the 10% risk threshold (O-RADS 4-5), the O-RADS lexicon had 92% sensitivity (95% CI, 87%-96%) and 80% specificity (95% CI, 74%-85%), and the IOTA 2-step strategy had 91% sensitivity (95% CI, 84%-95%) and 85% specificity (95% CI, 80%-88%).

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this external diagnostic validation study suggest that both the O-RADS lexicon and the IOTA 2-step strategy can be used to stratify patients into risk groups. However, the observed malignancy rate in O-RADS 2 was not clearly below 1%.

Validation of models to diagnose ovarian cancer in patients managed surgically or conservatively: multicentre cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of diagnostic prediction models for ovarian malignancy in all patients with an ovarian mass managed surgically or conservatively.

DESIGN

Multicentre cohort study.

SETTING

36 oncology referral centres (tertiary centres with a specific gynaecological oncology unit) or other types of centre.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive adult patients presenting with an adnexal mass between January 2012 and March 2015 and managed by surgery or follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Overall and centre specific discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of six prediction models for ovarian malignancy (risk of malignancy index (RMI), logistic regression model 2 (LR2), simple rules, simple rules risk model (SRRisk), assessment of different neoplasias in the adnexa (ADNEX) with or without CA125). ADNEX allows the risk of malignancy to be subdivided into risks of a borderline, stage I primary, stage II-IV primary, or secondary metastatic malignancy. The outcome was based on histology if patients underwent surgery, or on results of clinical and ultrasound follow-up at 12 (±2) months. Multiple imputation was used when outcome based on follow-up was uncertain.

RESULTS

The primary analysis included 17 centres that met strict quality criteria for surgical and follow-up data (5717 of all 8519 patients). 812 patients (14%) had a mass that was already in follow-up at study recruitment, therefore 4905 patients were included in the statistical analysis. The outcome was benign in 3441 (70%) patients and malignant in 978 (20%). Uncertain outcomes (486, 10%) were most often explained by limited follow-up information. The overall area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was highest for ADNEX with CA125 (0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 0.96), ADNEX without CA125 (0.94, 0.91 to 0.95) and SRRisk (0.94, 0.91 to 0.95), and lowest for RMI (0.89, 0.85 to 0.92). Calibration varied among centres for all models, however the ADNEX models and SRRisk were the best calibrated. Calibration of the estimated risks for the tumour subtypes was good for ADNEX irrespective of whether or not CA125 was included as a predictor. Overall clinical utility (net benefit) was highest for the ADNEX models and SRRisk, and lowest for RMI. For patients who received at least one follow-up scan (n=1958), overall area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranged from 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.66 to 0.84) for RMI to 0.89 (0.81 to 0.94) for ADNEX with CA125.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found the ADNEX models and SRRisk are the best models to distinguish between benign and malignant masses in all patients presenting with an adnexal mass, including those managed conservatively.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01698632.

Understanding the Influence of Flow Velocity, Wall Motion Filter, Pulse Repetition Frequency, and Aliasing on Power Doppler Image Quantification

OBJECTIVES

Although power Doppler imaging has been used to quantify tissue and organ vascularity, many studies showed that limitations in defining adequate ultrasound machine settings and attenuation make such measurements complex to be achieved. However, most of these studies were conducted by using the output of proprietary software, such as Virtual Organ computer-aided analysis (GE Healthcare, Kretz, Zipf, Austria); therefore, many conclusions may not be generalizable because of unknown settings and parameters used by the software. To overcome this limitation, our goal was to evaluate the impact of the flow velocity, pulse repetition frequency (PRF), and wall motion filter (WMF) on power Doppler image quantification using beam-formed ultrasonic radiofrequency data.

METHODS

The setup consisted of a blood-mimicking fluid flowing through a phantom. Radiofrequency signals were collected using PRFs ranging from 0.6 to 10 kHz for 6 different flow velocities (5-40 cm/s). Wall motion filter cutoff frequencies were varied between 50 and 250 Hz.

RESULTS

The power Doppler magnitude was deeply influenced by the WMF cutoff frequency. The effect of using different WMF values varied with the PRF; therefore, the power Doppler signal intensity was dependent on the PRF. Finally, we verified that power Doppler quantification can be affected by the aliasing effect, especially when using a PRF lower than 1.3 kHz.

CONCLUSIONS

The WMF and PRF greatly influenced power Doppler quantification, mainly when flow velocities lower than 20 cm/s were used. Although the experiments were conducted in a nonclinical environment, the evaluated parameters are equivalent to those used in clinical practice, which makes them valuable for aiding the interpretation of related data in future research.

Elastography Improves the Diagnostic Accuracy of Sonography in Differentiating Endometrial Polyps and Submucosal Fibroids

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether strain elastography may be used to visualize the different stiffness of endometrial polyps and submucosal fibroids.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective monocentric single-operator study on diagnostic accuracy. Patients who qualified for hysteroscopy because of suspected endometrial polyps and submucosal fibroids were included. Before the procedure, all patients underwent routine sonographic and power Doppler examinations. Additionally, the stiffness of intrauterine lesions was assessed by strain elastography. The enhancement was adjusted to visualize hard myometrium and soft endometrium around the intrauterine lesion. Due to their histologic structure, we assumed that on strain elastography, endometrial polyps should appear as soft lesions, whereas submucosal fibroids should appear as hard lesions. Sonographic, power Doppler, and elastographic findings were verified by pathologic examinations after hysteroscopies. The diagnostic accuracy of sonography, power Doppler imaging, and strain elastography was compared by the McNemar test.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients were included and underwent hysteroscopy. In 29 cases, endometrial polyps were found, and in 18, submucosal fibroids were found. The diagnostic accuracy rates for B-mode sonography, power Doppler imaging, and strain elastography in distinguishing endometrial polyps and submucosal fibroids were 70.2%, 65.9%, and 89.4%, respectively. The proportion of correct findings was significantly higher for strain elastography than for B-mode sonography (P = .0265) and power Doppler imaging (P = .0153).

CONCLUSIONS

Strain elastography complements sonography in differentiating intrauterine lesions. Strain elastography may be used to visualize the different stiffness of endometrial polyps and submucosal fibroids.

Proximal femoral focal deficiency of the fetus - early 3D/4D prenatal ultrasound diagnosis

Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD) is a rare congenital syndrome of unknown etiology. Additional disorders can be present up to 70% of PFFD cases. Management (including termination) depends on the severity of the malformation. We present a case of a 32-year-old woman referred for routine ultrasound examination in the 12th week of pregnancy. Detailed 3D/4D evaluation revealed asymmetry of lower limbs and diagnosis of isolated PFFD was established. Parents were fully informed and decided to continue the pregnancy. We stress here the importance of early 3D/4D ultrasound diagnosis. Our paper presents the earliest case where the diagnosis of PFFD was established with 3D/4D ultrasound.

Are Results of 4-D Ultrasound Angiography Examinations Dependent on the Doppler Technology Applied? Comparison of Results Obtained from an In Vivo Model

We aimed to evaluate the agreement of results obtained by 4-D spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) angiography with two options of Doppler technology (power Doppler [PD] and high-definition flow [HDF]) from an ovary as an in vivo model. Thirty-eight ovaries were recorded by trans-vaginal ultrasound examination in the first part of the menstrual cycle. Two STIC sequences (4-D HDF and 4-D PD) were stored. Volumetric pulsatility index, volumetric resistance index and volumetric systolic/diastolic index for each of these sequences were calculated, and their mean values were compared and correlated. Agreement between 4-D HDF and 4-D PD was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient. Intra-class correlation coefficients for all three indices were high, but 95% confidence intervals and limits of agreement were wide. We conclude that both 4-D power Doppler and 4-D high-definition flow may be used for calculating volumetric pulsatility index, volumetric resistance index and volumetric systolic/diastolic index from a STIC sequence, at least in ovaries used as an in vivo model. However, values obtained by both methods cannot be used interchangeably.

Comparison of two methods for calculating the mean vascularization index of ovarian stroma on the basis of spatio-temporal image correlation high-definition flow technology

The aim of our study was to determine the agreement between two different methods for calculating the mean vascularization index (VI) of ovarian stroma using spatio-temporal image correlation-high definition flow (STIC-HDF) technology. Stored 4-D STIC-HDF volume data for ovaries of 34 premenopausal women were assessed retrospectively. We calculated the mean VI from the VI values derived for each 3-D volume within the STIC sequence. Then, the examiner subjectively selected the two volumes with the highest and lowest color signals, respectively. We averaged these two values. Agreement between VI measurements was estimated by calculating intra-class correlation coefficients. The intra-class correlation coefficient for the VI was 0.999 (95% confidence interval: 0.999-1.000). The mean time needed to calculate the mean VI using the entire 4-D STIC sequence was significantly longer than the mean time needed to calculate the average value from the volumes with the highest and lowest color signals determined by the operator (p < 0001). We conclude that there is significant agreement between the two methods. Calculating the average VI from the highest and lowest values is less time consuming than calculating the mean VI from the complete STIC sequence.

Ovarian stromal vessels assessed by spatiotemporal image correlation-high definition flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

To compare spatiotemporal image correlation-high definition flow (STIC-HDF) indices from spherical samples of ovary between women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and normal women.

METHODS

This was a prospective case-control study of premenopausal women with a diagnosis of PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria and of healthy, regularly menstruating, premenopausal women (controls) matched for age (< 35 years) and body mass index. Women were assessed in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle by 4D STIC-HDF transvaginal ultrasound. Based on 1-cm(3) spherical sampling, we calculated for each woman the vascularization index (VI) for the most vascularized part of the ovarian stroma in all three-dimensional volumes of the 4D STIC-HDF sequence. The maximum (VI(sys)) and minimum (VI(diast)) values were assumed to represent systole and diastole, respectively, and the mean VI for all frames from one cardiac cycle was calculated. Based on these three VI values, we calculated the following indices: volumetric systolic/diastolic ratio (vS/D), volumetric resistance index (vRI) and volumetric pulsatility index (vPI), and compared them between study and control groups.

RESULTS

The study included 32 PCOS women (mean age, 29.6 years) and 32 controls (mean age, 30.4 years). Mean VI(sys) (26.246% vs 8.136%, P < 0.0001) and mean VI(diast) (22.242% vs 5.997%, P < 0.0001) were significantly higher in PCOS women compared with controls. Median vS/D (1.15 vs 1.33, P < 0.001), mean vRI (0.17 vs 0.30, P < 0.001) and median vPI (0.14 vs 0.28, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in PCOS women compared with controls.

CONCLUSION

4D STIC-HDF indices from 1-cm(3) spherical samples of the ovaries were different between PCOS women and controls, suggesting lower impedance to flow in ovarian stromal vessels in PCOS women.

Spatiotemporal image correlation with spherical sampling and high-definition flow: new 4-dimensional method for assessment of tissue vascularization changes during the cardiac cycle: reproducibility analysis

OBJECTIVES

To describe and assess the interobserver reproducibility of a new method for evaluation of ovarian vascularization using spatiotemporal image correlation-high definition flow (STIC-HDF).

METHODS

Stored 4-dimensional (4D) STIC-HDF volume data from 39 healthy pre-menopausal fertile women (aged <35 years) examined in the follicular part of the menstrual cycle by transvaginal sonography were assessed by two different examiners blinded from each other (one in Spain the other in Poland). Using 1-cm(3) spherical sampling, the vascularization index (VI) from the most vascularized part of the ovarian stroma was calculated at two different moments of the cardiac cycle (systole and diastole). System settings were kept constant for all patients (pulse repetition frequency, 0.6 kHz; gain, 0.2) with a depth of 40 mm. Analysis was performed offline using 4D software on a personal computer. On the basis of VI and vascularization-flow index (VFI) values during systole and diastole, 4 new 4D indices were defined: 4D systolic/diastolic volumetric index (4D-SDVI = VI(syst)/VI(diast)), 4D hemodynamic volumetric index (4D-HVI = [VI(syst) + VI(diast)]/[VI(syst) - VI(diast)]), 4D systolic/diastolic vascularization-flow index (4D-SDVFI = VFI(syst)/VFI(diast)), and 4D hemodynamic vascularization-flow index (4D-HVFI = [VFI(syst) + VFI(diast)]/[VFI(syst)- VFI(diast)]). Reproducibility of measurements was estimated by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

RESULTS

The systolic VI, diastolic VI, 4D-SDVI, 4D-HVI, systolic VFI, diastolic VFI, and 4D-HVFI showed good reproducibility (ICC, 0.992, 0.994, 0.879, 0.915, 0.995, 0.995, and 0.893, respectively). The 4D-SDVFI showed moderate reproducibility (ICC, 0.797).

CONCLUSIONS

We describe 4 new 4D vascular indices for assessing tissue vascularization using STIC-HDF technology. Assessment of ovarian vascularization using this STIC-HDF spherical sampling is reliable. The calculation of these new indices is reproducible between two different examiners.

Spatiotemporal image correlation using high-definition flow: a new method for assessing ovarian vascularization

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to describe a new method for assessing ovarian vascularization using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC)-high-definition flow (HDF).

METHODS

Thirty healthy premenopausal fertile women were assessed in the follicular part of the menstrual cycle by transvaginal sonography. A 4-dimensional STIC-HDF volume was obtained from the nondominant ovary to assess 3-dimensional (3D) vascular indices (vascularization index [VI] and flow index [FI]) during one cardiac cycle in each women. Using 1-cm(3) spherical sampling, we calculated the VI and FI from the most vascularized part of the ovarian stroma at two different moments of the cardiac cycle (systole and diastole). System settings were kept constant for all of the patients (pulse repetition frequency, 0.9 kHz; gain, 0.8; and depth, 40 mm). We calculated the VI and FI ratios between systole and diastole.

RESULTS

The mean VI during systole (11.485%; SD, 6.7%) was significantly higher than during diastole (8.653%; SD, 5.6%; P < .0001). The mean FI values during systole (47.799 [unitless]; SD, 5.8) and diastole (47.791; SD, 6.0) were nearly identical (P = .993). The VI ratio was 1.35 (95% confidence interval, 1.28-1.42), which means that the mean VI was 35% higher during systole compared to diastole, whereas the FI during systole and diastole remained constant (FI ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.04). There was a high correlation between VI values during systole and diastole (r(2) = 0.94), whereas this correlation was weaker for the FI (r(2) = 0.45).

CONCLUSIONS

The STIC-HDF method allows assessment of 3D vascular indices throughout the cardiac cycle. Vascularization index calculation is affected by the moment of the cardiac cycle during which the measurement is taken. However, it seems that FI calculation is not affected by the cardiac cycle in the normal nondominant ovary.

Does sphere volume affect the performance of three-dimensional power Doppler virtual vascular sampling for predicting malignancy in vascularized solid or cystic-solid adnexal masses?

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether, when using spherical sampling with Virtual Organ Computer-Aided Analysis (VOCAL) for calculating three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler angiography (PDA) indices, the sphere volume affects performance in the prediction of malignancy in vascularized cystic-solid or solid adnexal masses.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-eight women (mean +/- SD age, 51.8 +/- 14.1 years) diagnosed as having vascularized cystic-solid or solid adnexal masses on B-mode and two-dimensional (2D) power Doppler ultrasound were evaluated by 3D-PDA prior to surgery. Five women had bilateral masses, giving a total number of 143 masses analyzed. Vascularization was assessed using VOCAL software. 3D-PDA vascular indices (vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI)) from the most vascularized area within papillary projections and solid areas were calculated automatically using spherical sampling. Five different volumes of sphere were used (1 cm(3), 2 cm(3), 3 cm(3), 4 cm(3) and 5 cm(3)) in each case. A definitive histological diagnosis was obtained in each case after surgical tumor removal.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventeen (82%) masses were malignant and 26 (18%) were benign. Morphological evaluation revealed 34 (24%) unilocular solid masses, 49 (34%) multilocular solid masses and 60 (42%) mostly solid masses. The 1-cm(3) sphere could be used in 100% of the cases, the 2-cm(3) sphere could be used in 98.2% of the cases and the 3-5-cm(3) spheres could be used in 97.2% of the cases. The median VI, FI and VFI for all sphere volumes were significantly higher in malignant compared with non-malignant tumors. Receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis showed that VI and VFI, independently of sphere volume, were better predictors of malignancy than was FI. The best cut-off values for the 3D-PDA indices differed depending on sphere volume. VI was significantly more specific than were VFI and FI.

CONCLUSIONS

Sphere volume does not affect the performance of 3D-PDA. We recommend the use of different cut-off values for 3D-PDA indices for discriminating between benign and malignant adnexal masses, depending on the sphere volume used. Use of VI is preferable due to its higher specificity.

Three-dimensional vascular indices calculated using conventional power Doppler and high-definition flow imaging: are there differences?

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in 3-dimensional (3D) vascular indices when calculated using high-definition flow imaging (HDF) and power Doppler imaging (PD).

METHODS

Twenty-five consecutive asymptomatic premenopausal women (mean age, 31 years; range, 28-33 years) without a history of gynecologic disease who attended routine gynecologic checkups were included in the study. All women had regular menstrual cycles, and none had uterine or myometrial disease detected on basal transvaginal sonography. All women underwent 3D transvaginal sonography. In each patient, a first volume using conventional PD was obtained, immediately followed by a second volume using HDF. Volumes were stored and subsequently analyzed for calculating 3D vascular indices (vascularization index [VI], flow index [FI], and vascularization-flow index [VFI]) from the endometrium.

RESULTS

The median VI, FI, and VFI were significantly higher when calculated using HDF compared with conventional PD (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Three-dimensional vascular indices calculated using HDF are higher than those calculated using conventional PD.

Spherical tissue sampling in 3-dimensional power Doppler angiography: a new approach for evaluation of ovarian tumors

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of virtual spherical tissue sampling using 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound power Doppler angiography to enhance differentiation between normal and pathologic ovaries.

METHODS

Twenty-seven cases with ovarian tumors were analyzed: 14 with invasive cancers and 13 with borderline tumors confirmed by surgery. The control subjects consisted of 53 healthy ovulating women. Ultrasound scans were done, and 3D volumes were analyzed with 3-/4-dimensional software for personal computers based on 3D vascularity indices: the vascularization index, flow index, and vascularization-flow index. A virtual spherical tissue sample of 1 cm3 was taken from the place of the highest vessel density contained completely within the contours of the ovary. Calculations for the whole solid volume were done for comparison.

RESULTS

Vascularity indices for both 1-cm3 spherical samples and whole dense parts of the ovaries were compared in the following groups: (1) ovarian tumors versus controls, (2) normal ovaries in the proliferative versus secretory phase, (3) invasive cancers versus borderline tumors, (4) invasive cancers versus normal ovaries, and (5) borderline tumors versus normal ovaries. Spherical 1-cm3 sampling achieved a higher degree of discrimination between the groups compared with the whole solid-part approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Spherical 1-cm3 sampling of ovarian tissue with 3D ultrasound power Doppler angiography is a sensitive and promising approach to differentiate between ovarian tumors and normal ovaries. It opens the possibility to implement objective computerized positioning, standardized comparison, and analysis of ovarian tumors.

National survey of community residential facilities: a profile of facilities and residents in 1977

In 1977, a national mail survey of all community residential facilities (CRFs) for mentally retarded persons throughout the United States was conducted by the staff of the Developmental Disabilities Project on Residential Services and Community Adjustment at the University of Minnesota. The results of 4,427 participating facilities were summarized in this report. Demographic information on facility size, location, ownership, and reimbursement rates was presented as well as general characteristics about the residents and their movement trends. The impact of the deinstitutionalization movement for mentally retarded persons was substantially verified by the results of this survey: between 1973 and 1977, the number of CRFs doubled. Wide variations in facility size and the extent to which states use community living arrangements to serve mentally retarded people were two notable trends confirmed by the survey results.