Corpus Luteum Cyst Rupture - US Findings and Clinical Features

PURPOSE: To describe the US findings of corpus luteum cyst rupture in order to elucidate the associated clinical features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with proven corpus luteum cyst rupture were included in this study. The US findings of these patients were retrospectively analyzed in terms of the presence of designable cyst, size of the cyst, thickness and blood flow of the cyst wall, extension and echogenicity of peritoneal fluid, and involved site (right or left ovary). We also surveyed the clinical features such as the onset period according to the menstrual cycle, and the presence of suspectable cause. RESULTS: Fourteen of the 20 patients revealed designable cysts (mean diameter of 2.6 cm) with thick walled cysts (mean thickness, 4.6 mm, 2.4 -6.8 mm) and increased blood flow. Six patients didn 't reveal any cyst but only hematoma in adnexa. All patients had hemoperitoneum in the pelvic cavity, and the hemoperitoneum was extended to Morrison's pouch in 8 patients and to the subphrenic space in 6. The cysts occurred in the right adnexa in 15 patients and in the left in 5. Mean interval from the last menstrual period (LMP) was 26 days (13-44 days) and 6 of the 8 patients for whom it had been possible to obtain detailed history taking had had coitus just before the occurrence of symptom. CONCLUSION: When women who are hospitalized for acute abdomen and who are in luteal phase reveal US findings of hematoma or thick-walled cyst in adnexa and hemoperitoneum, a corpus luteum cyst rupture is highly suspected. In our case study the corpus luteum cyst rupture predominantly occurred in the right side, and the most suspectable cause was trauma such as coitus in the luteal phase.

Sclerosing Stromal Tumor of the Ovary: MR-Pathologic Correlation in Three Cases

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) of the ovary is a very rare sex cord stromal tumor occurring in a younger age group than other types of stromal tumors and most commonly accompanied by menstrual irregularity. Several unique histologic features including pseudolobulation, sclerosis and prominent vascularity are clearly reflected at ultrasonography and MRI. We report the ultrasonographic and MR features of three cases of histologically confirmed SSTs, and relate them to the pathological findings.

Sonographic Findings of Inguinal Herniation of the Ovary

PURPOSE: To describe the sonographic findings of inguinal herniation of the ovary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five girls aged 1-12 (mean, 4.7) months with a groin mass underwent sonographic examination, and in seven of the 45, inguinal herniation of the ovary was detected, and confirmed at surgery. Gray-scale and color Doppler sonographic examinations were performed to evaluate the size, echo pattern, and blood flow of the mass. Sonography of the pelvis and contralateral groin was also performed. RESULTS: In all seven cases, sonography revealed an oval-shaped complex mass 15-25 mm in maximal diameter and composed of heterogeneous hypoechoic portions and one to seven small internal cysts, each 2-9 mm in diameter. Blood flow was observed in all cases, though was subtly decreased in one. In two there was associated herniation of the salpinx, and in two others, incarceration. In four, contralateral inguinal hernia was present. CONCLUSION: Sonographic findings of an oval-shaped heterogeneous hypoechoic mass with internal small cysts, present in the groin, indicate inguinal herniation of the ovary.

The Ultrasonographic Features of Endometriomas: Morphologic Analysis and Differential Diagnosis

PURPOSE: To analyze the sonographic, morphologic, and internal echo patterns of endometriomas, and thus determine which ultrasonographic (US) findings assist diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty-seven eases of pathologically proven adnexal masses in 130 women were divided into three groups: group I, in which endometriomas were diagnosed at both preoperative US and surgery (true positive) (n=97); group II, in which endometriomas were misdiagnosed at preoperative US, and were confirmed after surgery to be other pathologic entities (false positive) (n=10); group III, in which other adnexal masses were misdiagnosed at preoperative US, but were proven after surgery to be endometriomas (false negative) (n=40). The US findings in these cases were retrospectively reviewed in terms of (a) morphologic type: unilocular, multiseptated, multilobulated, solid and cystic, or mixed; (b) internal echo pattern: homogeneous fine, anechoic, fine septation, or complex; (c) size; (d) wall thickness; (e) the presence or absence of septation; (f) wall nodularity; (g) echogenic wall foci; and (h) a solid area. RESULTS: In group I, the most common morphological type was unilocular cyst (n=63; 65%). In lesions most commonly emitted homogeneous fine echoes (n=76; 78%). In this group, most masses (86%) were less than 10 cm in diameter and the wall thickness in 65% of cases was less than 3 mm. Additionally, internal septation, wall nodularity, focal echogenic wall foci, and a solid area were observed at US. Group II, cases were pathologically confirmed as mucinous cystadenoma (n=3), mucinous cystadenoma with borderline malignancy, hemorrhagic cyst, functional cyst, endometrioid carcinoma, and hematoma. In group III, cases were misdiagnosed as cystadenoma (n=15), hemorrhagic cyst, teratoma, ovarian cancer, functional cyst and ectopic pregnancy at preoperative US. There were no significant differences in size or wall thickness between groups II and III, and group I. At US, groups II and III also showed internal septation, wall nodularity, focal echogenic wall foci, and a solid area, all of which were also apparent in group I. CONCLUSION: The US findings of endometriomas vary: the most common is homogeneous fine internal echoes (79%), found in 85% of unilocular or multiseptated cysts. Their appearance may also be atypical, however: namely solid and cystic or mixed type, with diverse internal echogenicity, and such masses should be differentiated from other adnexal masses such as cystic neoplasm, teratoma, hemorrhagic cyst, functional cyst and ovarian cancer.

Sclerosing Stromal Tumor of the Ovary: A Case Report

Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary is a rare benign neoplasm, with distinctive clinical and pathologic features. It occurs predominantly in females during the second and third decades of life. Histologically, it is composed of cellular and acellular collagenized areas, and edematous stromal areas, and at ultrasonography and computed tomography is seen as a distinctive mixed solid and cystic mass lesion. We report a case of sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary in a 15-year-old girl with a history of menorrhagia since menarche. Ultrasonography revealed the tumor as a well-defined, lobulated, heterogenous echogenic pelvic mass, while at CT, a huge pelvic mass 9x9x10 cm in size, was seen. This comprised a well-enhanced internal solid portion, a capsule, septa, and a non-enhanced cystic portion.

Radiologic Findings of Ovarian Fibrothe

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic features of fibrothecoma of the ovary, which is a rare solid tumor originating from the ovarian sex cord-stroma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radiologic findings of 29 patients with pathologically-proven fibrothecoma of the ovary were retrospectively evaluated for bilaterality, size, shape, margin, echogenecity, CT attenuation, signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging, calcification, and amount of ascites. RESULTS: All fibrothecomas were unilateral, and had well defined margins. The diameter of the mass was 4-18(mean, 9.6)cms. Elghteen of 29 tumors were round or oval with a smooth margin, and eleven were lobulated. The internal architecture of the tumor was purely solid in 21 patients, predominantly solid in six, and pre-dominantly cystic in two. A broad spectrum of sonographic features was apparent, including a homogeneously hypoechoic mass (with posterior shadowing in four cases, and without posterior shadowing in ten), a homoge-neously hyperechoic mass in seven cases, an anechoic mass with septatations in two, and a mixed echoic mass in six. On precontrast CT scans, the mass was isodense to the uterine myometrium in eight of nine cases, while on postcontrast scans the lesion was slightly hypodense to the myometrium in seven cases and isodense in one. On T1-weighted MR images, nine of ten cases showed a relatively homogeneous low signal intensity, while on T2-weighted images, signal intensity was homogeneously low in two patients and predominantly low with focal high intensity in seven of the other eight. On gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images, most tu-mors showed slight heterogeneous enhancement. Calcifications were present in two cases, and in two others there was a large amount of ascites. CONCLUSION: The characteristic finding of ovarian fibrothecomas is a well-defined, oval or lobulated homoge-neously solid mass, which on CT scans enhances less than uterine myometrium and demonstrates a predomi-nantly low signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images. However, a predominantly solid mass with cystic components or a predominantly cystic mass may also be presented.

Radiologic Findings of Ovarian Borderline Malignancy

PURPOSE: Ovarian epithelial tumors of borderline malignancy belong to a disease entity distnct from that ofbenign and overt malignant tumors, and the younger age of patients and earlier stage at diagnosis compared withinvasive ovarian cancers makes conservative surgery an important issue. The purpose of this study was to evaluatewhether there are any characteristic radiologic findings to suggest the presence of these tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 20 pathologically proven tumors of ovarian borderline malignancy, the findings of ultrasonography (n= 17) (with color Doppler ultrasonography in two cases), computed tomography (n = 8), or magnetic resonanceimaging (n = 6) were compared with pathologic findings and, were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Imageswere evaluated for size, loculation, thickness and regularity of wall and septum, endocystic vegetation, solidportion, calcification, local invasion and distant metastasis. RESULTS: Among 20 unilateral tumors, 18 weremucinous and two were serous; 19 (95%) were at stage I, and one was at stage II (local invasion of uterus, leftpara-aortic lymphadenopathy, and malignant ascites). Tumor size ranged from 10 - 40 cm in the largest diameter(mean, 21 cm). Radiologic findings of thick, irregular wall or septum were notified in 14 tumors (70%), endocysticvegetation in 12 (60%), enhancing solid portion in 11 (55%), and calcification in two (10%). Of 18 mucinoustumors, 17 (94%) were multilocular. One serous tumor was unilocular and one was multilocular. Color Dopplerultrasonography of two mucinous tumors revealed blood flow signals in the wall, septum, solid portion orendocystic vegetation, and resistive indices were 0.5 and 0.4, respectively. CONCLUSION: When ovarian tumors arepresent - especially in young females and at a lower stage -, radiologic findings of a thick, irregular wall orseptum, endocystic vegetation, and a small enhanced solid component, for example, indicate the possibility ofovarian epithelial tumors of borderline malignancy.

Radiologic Findings of Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumor

PURPOSE: To determine, through an analysis of radiologic findings, whether the findings of granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) of the ovary are specific. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radiologic findings (ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging) of 16 pathologically proven ovarian GCTs in 15 patients were retrospectively analysed for the site of origin, staging, largest diameter, margin, solid and/or cystic components, degree of enhancement, and associated endometrial hyperplasia, ascites, and local and/or distant metastasis. RESULTS: Unilateral ovarian GCTs were found in 14 patients, and bilateral tumors in one. Of a totalof 16 tumors, 13 were of the adult type, and three were juvenile; their largest diameter ranged from 1 to 26 (mean, 15.6)cm. Eleven tumors were well-defined, two were cystic, and one small tumor was solid. Of 13 mixed tumors, three had hemorrhagic portions, and five had multilocular cystic portions. Metastases to the uterus, tubes, rectum, lymph nodes, or liver were found in six patients, and associated endometrial hyperplasia in two. CONCLUSION: Radiologically, ovarian GCTs showed well-defined or encapsulated soft tissue masses with some hemorrhagic, multiocular or focal cystic components, as well as associated endometrial thickening and local or distant metastasis. These and clinical findings may be useful in the diagnosis of ovarian GCTs.

Radiologic Findings of Granulosa Cell Tumor of the Ovary

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic findings of granulosa cell tumor of the ovary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen cases (fifteen tumors) of pathologically confirmed ovarian granulosa cell tumor were retrospectively analyzed on the basis of CT (n=10), MR imaging (n=4), and ultrasound (n=7) findings. The patients' mean age was 44.3 (range, 5-71) years. RESULTS: The mean diameter of the tumors was 12.1 (range, 5-26.5)cm. Thirteen cases were unilateral, and one was bilateral. Eleven tumors (ten cases) were mainly solid and eight of these had focal cystic components. Multilocular cysts accounted for three cases, and in two of these, mural nodules were present. One case was a unilocular cyst with no mural nodule. Ten cases were well demarcated. All the solid tumors were enhanced on postcontrast CT and MR imaging. Endometrial thickening was seen in five cases, ascites in six, and peritoneal implants or omental fat infiltration in five. One was associated with lymph node metastasis. All the postmenopausal patients had solid tumors, whereas 66.7% (4 of 6 cases) of young adults and children had cystic tumors. CONCLUSION: Granulosa cell tumors of the ovary were solid or cystic; the former were more common. There were no characteristic findings which permitted definitive differentiation from other ovarian tumors.

Ovarian Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma in 17-year-old Girl: A Case Report

Malignant epithelial neoplasm usually occurs in postmenopausal women, with less than 10% of cases occurring in women under the age of 20. In patients below this age, the majority of ovarian tumors are of germ cell origin and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors are uncommon. We report US & CT imaging in a case of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in a 17-year-old nullipara who complained of amenorrhea for 45 days and a palpable mass.

Massive Ovarian Edema: US and MRI Findings 3 Cases Report

Massive ovarian edema is a rare tumor-like condition occurring in young women; it involves enlargement of the ovary, caused by intermittent torsion of the mesovarium. Ultrasonographically, a well-defined inhomogeneous soft tissue mass lesion is seen, and this cannot be distinguished from other solid ovarian tumors. The MRI findings, seen on T1WI, are inhomogeneous high signal intensity of the central part, with peripheral low signal intensity of the mass lesion. On T2WI, the inner part of the mass shows high signal intensity and the peripheral part, low signal intensity. Ovarian follicles are arranged peripherally, and are seen as low signal intensity on T1WI, and high signal intensity on T2WI. These MR findings are specific for the diagnosis of massive ovarian edema.

Radiologic Findings of Struma Ovarii

PURPOSE: Struma ovarii is ovarian tumor composed solely or predominantly of thyroid tissue or tumor in which hyperthyroidism results from ovarian thyroid tissue, and usually occurs in tandem with cystic teratoma. Ovarian cystic teratoma is radiologically easily diagnosed due to calcification or fat, for example, but the preoperative diagnosis of struma ovarii is often difficult due to rare characteristic features of thyroid tissue. Our purpose was to determine whether there were specific findings of struma ovarii which distinguished it from other ovarian tumors, and this involved analysis of its radiologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, preoperative radiologic findings of pathologically-proven struma ovarii in eleven patients were retrospectively evaluated for site, margin, nature (cystic, solid, mixed), contrast enhancement, septa, mural nodule, calcification, fat, and metastasis. These findings were compared with pathologic findings. RESULTS: All eleven tumors were unilateral, ten had smooth tumor margins, seven were mixed cystic and solid tumors (more than 70% of solid components in one tumor), and nine had regular septa. Three of four cystic masses (one unilocular, one bilocular and two multilocular cysts) had mural nodules. Calcifications were found in two tumors, and fat in one. Malignant change or metastasis was not found in any tumor. In one patient with hyperthyroidism due to struma ovarii, symptoms and signs of this subsided after removal of the tumor on salpingo-oophorectomy. CONCLUSION: Most cases of struma ovarii occurred unilaterally within ovarian teratomas in premenopausal women, and were mixed cystic and solid masses with smooth margins that are commonly enhanced on contrast enhanced scans. In one patient, hyperthyroidism was caused by struma ovarii. There were, however, no specific radiologic findings that were sufficiently typical to suggest the correct preoperative diagnosis of struma ovarii.

Whirling Sign: An Imaging Finding Indicating Ovarian Torsion

PURPOSE: To present a diagnostic sign on MRI and US in patients with ovarian torsion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present characteristic imaging findings in eight patients with surgically-proven ovarian torsion. MRI was performed in four patients, CT in six and US in all patients; the procedures including eight transabdominal US(TAS) and three transvaginal US(TVS). In each study, imaging findings were analyzed for the appearance of twisted pedicle and the presence of a "whirling sign". RESULTS: The pedicle which indicates ovarian torsion was detected on MRI in all 4 patients, on TAS in 4/7, on TVS in 3/3, and on CT in 4/6. A specific "whirling sign" was detected on MRI in 2/4 patients, on TAS in 2/4, and on TVS in all three. On CT a "whirling sign" was not detected. CONCLUSION: The "whirling sign" on both MRI & US is a characteristic finding of ovarian torsion; in a patient with adnexal mass and complaining of lower abdominal pain, the presence of this sign is very useful for the diagnosis of ovarian torsion.

Whirling Sign: An Imaging Finding Indicating Ovarian Torsion

PURPOSE: To present a diagnostic sign on MRI and US in patients with ovarian torsion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present characteristic imaging findings in eight patients with surgically-proven ovarian torsion. MRI was performed in four patients, CT in six and US in all patients; the procedures including eight transabdominal US(TAS) and three transvaginal US(TVS). In each study, imaging findings were analyzed for the appearance of twisted pedicle and the presence of a "whirling sign". RESULTS: The pedicle which indicates ovarian torsion was detected on MRI in all 4 patients, on TAS in 4/7, on TVS in 3/3, and on CT in 4/6. A specific "whirling sign" was detected on MRI in 2/4 patients, on TAS in 2/4, and on TVS in all three. On CT a "whirling sign" was not detected. CONCLUSION: The "whirling sign" on both MRI & US is a characteristic finding of ovarian torsion; in a patient with adnexal mass and complaining of lower abdominal pain, the presence of this sign is very useful for the diagnosis of ovarian torsion.

Immature Teratoma of the Ovary: CT and US Findings

PURPOSE: To compare CT and US features of immature and mature teratomas of the ovary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed CT and US findings of 11 patients with immature teratoma and 18 patients(20 cases) with mature teratoma. The tumors were classified into three groups on the basis of image findings : predominantlycystic(type I), predominantly solid(type II), and mixed cystic and solid(type III). RESULT: All eleven cases of immature teratoma were of the mixed type(type III), showing multiple small(less than 2 cm) nodular and linear calcifications and fatty nodules within the solid component and adjacent to the septa of the cystic component of the masses. In contrast, mature teratomas were predominantly cystic in six cases, predominantly solid in eight,and mixed in six cases. In five of six mixed type mature teratomes, calcified fatty nodules were fewer and largerthan in immature teratomas. CONCLUSION: Immature teratoma may be diagnosed by the demonstration on CT or US ofmultiple small(less than 2cm) nodular and linear calcifications and fatty nodules in the solid and cystic components of the tumor.