Low intensity components of ovarian tumors on T2-weighted images

Retrospective review of MRI was performed in one hundred cases with pathological proven ovarian tumors. Areas of low intensity on T2WI were analyzed in comparison with T1WI and correlated with pathological findings. 48 cases out of a hundred had areas of low intensity on T2WI. These components were proved to be either calcifications, flow void, fibrous tissues, or hemoglobin related substances. Areas of calcification and flow void were visualized as low intensity on both T1 and T2WI. Fibrous tissues and hemoglobin related substances showed low to intermediate intensity and various intensity on T1WI respectively. Low intensity components had some characteristic shapes as follows; all areas of calcifications showed linear or nodular, almost all fibrous tissues showed linear or mass-like, and hemoglobin related substances showed various shapes. Detection of low intensity components on T2WI were thought to be important in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors. With evaluation of intensity pattern on T1WI and shape of low intensity, nature of these low intensity components on T2WI could be specified. (author)