Role of Adding Diffusion Weighted MR Imaging to Conventional MR Imaging in Evaluation of Ovarian Masses

Abstract

varian cancer is the second most common gynecologic malignancy. However, it has the highest mortality among all gynecologic malignancies. The major reason for the poor prognosis is that, at the time of diagnosis, approximately 75% of patients have diseases that are at an advanced stage. Because of the obvious significant differences in prognosis between early and advanced cancers, early detection with accurate staging is of importance. Bimanual pelvic examination and serum CA-125 levels have failed to allow consistent detection of ovarian malignancy. Accordingly, imaging modalities, particularly ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging have become indispensable in the diagnosis of ovarian malignancy. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides useful information for the characterization of various ovarian masses. MR imaging is a useful modality for differentiating benign and malignant ovarian tumors, and a specific diagnosis can be made for certain pathologic entities. Diffusion-weighted imaging use may improve MR characterization of ovarian lesions. The aim of the work was to determine whether the addition of DW sequences to a conventional MR imaging protocol can help in the prediction of the nature of suspicious ovarian masses that are detected previously by conventional ultrasound.