Normal ovaries and functional cysts: MR appearance

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate characteristics of functional cysts and stroma in normal ovaries on magnetic resonance (MR) images.

Materials and methods: Fifty-six women with at least one surgically proved normal ovary underwent MR imaging. Gadolinium-enhanced fat-saturated images were obtained in 32 patients. Ovary and cyst sizes and the number of cysts were recorded. Signal intensity was rated for the ovarian stroma and cysts.

Results: On T2-weighted images, 57 of 82 (70%) ovaries showed a zonal differentiation. Ovarian stroma enhanced less than myometrium in 30 of 43 cases. Zonal anatomy and degree of enhancement correlated with patient age and menopausal status. Cyst walls had lower signal intensity on T2-weighted images than ovarian stroma in 49 of 74 cases and showed greater enhancement in 21 of 35.

Conclusion: Most normal premenopausal ovaries exhibit distinct features of a zonal anatomy, whereas postmenopausal ovaries do not. Cysts with discrete enhancing walls were numerous and were found in all age groups.