Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
Published online: January 1, 2001.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To find and evaluate differentiation point between tumorous and nontumorous lesions in multiloculated cystic ovarian masses by morphologic analysis. MATERIALS & METHODS: Without knowledge of clinical data and postoperative pathologic diagnosis, ultrasonographic findings of multiloculated cystic ovarian masses in 54 patients were morphologically analyzed and classified into two types, i. e. type A (multiloculated septated form suggesting tumorous condition) and type B (multiple aggregated form suggesting nontumorous condition). Morphological classification was compared with pathologic diagnosis in all cases. RESULTS: Of the 54 cases, 28 cases were tumorous lesions : serous cystadenoma(n=2) serous cystadenocarcinoma(n=2) teratoma(n=6); mucinous cystadenoma (n=11) mucinous cystadenocarcinoma(n=2) malignant Brenner tumor(n=2) metastasis(n=1) clear cell carcinoma(n=1) degenerated myoma(n=1), Remaining 26 cases were nontumorous lesions : functional cyst(n=9) endometriosis (n=13) tuboovarian abscess(n=3) inflammatory pseudocyst(n=1). In type A cases(n=28), true tumorous lesions were 25 cases and true nontumorous lesions were 3. In type B cases(n=26), true nontumorous lesions were 23 case and true tumorous lesions were 3. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of tumor diagnosis were 89%, 88%, 89%, 88% and 89%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Morphological analysis of multilocular pattern can be helpful and convenient method in ultrasonographic differential diagnosis between tumorous and nontumorous multiloculated ovarian masses.