That startles or that excites sudden surprise, apprehension, fear, or like emotion; that rouses or suddenly and forcibly attracts attention: as, startling news; a startling discovery.

Easily startled or alarmed; skittish; shying.

verb. Present participle of startle.

adjective. Likely to startle; surprising; shocking.

adjective. so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm

"The statistics were published as a second charity voiced concern over what it called "startling variations" in diagnosis and treatment outcomes in ovarian cancer."