Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in ovarian tumor: a systematic quantitative review

To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance in ovarian tumors.

A quantitative systematic review was performed. Studies that compared magnetic resonance and paraffin sections within subjects for diagnosis of ovarian tumors were included.

Fifteen primary studies were analyzed, which included 1267 ovarian masses. For borderline or malignant ovarian cancer vs benign ovarian lesions, the pooled likelihood ratio for the occurrence of a positive magnetic resonance result was 6.6 (95% confidence interval, 4.7-9.2) and the posttest probability for borderline or malignant diagnosis was 77% (95% confidence interval, 70-82). Because specificity and likelihood ratio positive were heterogeneous, a random effect model was used and a summary receiver operating characteristic curve was generated. For borderline or malignant ovarian cancer vs benign ovarian lesions, the area under curve was 0.9526.

Magnetic resonance seems to be a useful preoperative test for predicting the diagnosis of pelvic masses.