Imaging and staging of adnexal tumors

Full text: Adnexal masses present a special diagnostic challenge, in part because benign adnexal masses greatly outnumber malignant ones. Determination of a degree of suspicion for malignancy is critical and is based largely on imaging appearance. Ultrasonography (US) is typically the first study to be requested in patients with clinical findings that may suggest pelvic disease. US has been shown to be accurate for both detecting and characterizing these masses, most of which are either insignificant or benign and therefore require little or no follow-up. Recognition of the most common benign ovarian and extraovarian adnexal masses should help avoid additional or unnecessary imaging. US features that suggest malignancy include thick septations, vascularized non-fatty solid components, or areas of focal wall thickening, and papillary projections. after primary cytoreductive surgery. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is better reserved for problem solving when US findings are nondiagnostic or equivocal because, although it is more accurate for diagnosis, it is also more expensive. The signal intensity characteristics of ovarian masses make possible a systematic approach to diagnosis. Mature cystic teratomas, cysts, endometriomas, leiomyomas, fibromas, and other lesions can be accurately diagnosed on the basis of T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and fat-saturated T1-weighted MR imaging findings.