Value of MRI in Characterizing Adnexal Masses

Abstract

• Determining whether a clinically diagnosed adnexal mass is benign or malignant is frequently not possible until surgical exploration and histologic examination are performed. Consequently, it may not be possible to decide preoperatively whether conservative or radical surgery is appropriate. A reliable method with which to differentiate a benign from a malignant adnexal mass would provide a basis for optimal preoperative planning. • Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides useful information for characterization of various ovarian masses. MRI can reveal morphologic characteristics such as papillary projections, nodularity, septa, solid portions and signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images, but none of these criteria reliably distinguish between benign and malignant tumors. Diffusion-weighted imaging is sensitive to changes in the microdiffusion of water into both intracellular and extracellular spaces and its use may improve MR characterization of ovarian lesions. • Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a non-invasive means of obtaining metabolic information by recording signals from metabolites present in tissues, while the water signal is suppressed. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) plays an important role in the detection of ovarian tumors by differentiating between them whether being benign or malignant.