Computed tomography of ovarian masses

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of CT images in 138 histologically proven ovarian masses in 100 patients was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness and limitation of CT in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Benign masses were purely cystic in 98 (94.2%) and had solid component (including thickened walls, thickened septa, papillary projections) in five of 104 lesions (4.8%) on CT. These five masses, which are classified as benign solid tumors, could not be differentiated from malignant tumors by either the size of the solid portion or the intensity of contrast enhancement. In the malignant tumors a solid portion was detected in 32 of 34 tumors (94%). When a solid component is detected in an ovarian mass, the mass should be considered malignant although a few cases will be benign solid tumors. In Krukenberg tumors, which were all of gastric origin, the solid component was so large that it occupied more than one-half the mass. Therefore, if the solid portion of the ovarian mass is large on CT, upper gastrointestinal study should be performed to rule out Krukenberg tumor.