To study the effectiveness of international ovarian tumour analysis (iota) simple ultrasound rules in determining malignancy in ovarian tumours

Abstract

The study investigates the effectiveness of the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) simple ultrasound rules in distinguishing between benign and malignant ovarian masses. Conducted as a prospective observational study at Army Hospital in New Delhi between August 2020 and July 2022, it involved 50 patients. The primary objective was to evaluate the accuracy of the IOTA rules in preoperative tumor characterization by comparing ultrasound findings with histopathology results. Throughout the study, data on various tumor markers, such as CA-125, CEA, CA 19-9, and LDH, were collected. Of these, CA-125 stood out with a significant difference between benign and malignant groups, underlining its diagnostic importance. The IOTA rules demonstrated a sensitivity of 55.6% and a specificity of 97.6%, leading to an overall diagnostic accuracy of 90% in identifying ovarian malignancies. The high specificity indicates the rules' strength in accurately identifying benign masses, though the moderate sensitivity suggests limitations in detecting malignant cases. This highlights the importance of combining IOTA ultrasound results with tumor marker assessments for improved diagnostic accuracy. The findings emphasize that while the IOTA rules are highly valuable due to their specificity, a comprehensive approach that integrates imaging and clinical data is essential for accurate ovarian cancer diagnosis. The study suggests that although the IOTA rules are a promising tool for differentiating ovarian masses, further research is necessary to refine these rules and enhance early detection methods for ovarian cancer. This research supports the potential of IOTA rules as a standard diagnostic tool but underscores the need for ongoing improvements to better address the complexities of ovarian cancer detection.