Diagnostic Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Prediction of Malignancy in Adnexal Masses

INTRODUCTION: An ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death in women among gynecological cancers. For this reason adnexal masses diagnosis is important to make differentiation of malignant lesions from benign lesions. Ultrasound is generally used as a second step of evaluation of adnexal masses after pelvic examination. Unfortunately ultrasound may not be enough to detect malignant lesions in adnexa. For this reason several diagnostic approaches are being used. Magnetic resonance imaging can be used in adnexal masses which have malignancy suspicion. This study aims to show the diagnostic value of MRI in diagnosis of adnexal masses
METHODS: Files of 98 patients who underwent surgery for adnexal masses were retrospectively investigated. Patients under 18 years of age, patients whose adnexal mass were incidentally diagnosed during surgery and patients who don’t have preoperative imaging studies were excluded from the study. Postoperative pathology results and preoperative MRI findings were compared.
RESULTS: For MRI evaluation of the patients; the contrast enhancement was found to be more positive in masses diagnosed as malignant (44%vs.6.4%).Also presence of both omental cake and free fluid was found to be related with diagnosis of malignancy in final result. Bilaterally located masses in MRI were found to be more malignant (57%vs.27,14%).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: When MRI finding were evaluated as malignant or benign the consistency with the final pathology results were studied. A moderate correlation with the final results was found with the MRI results. MRI can be used in differentiation of malignant adnexal masses.