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Value of 3.0 T diffusion-weighted imaging in discriminating thecoma and fibrothecoma from other adnexal solid masses
He Zhang1, Guo-Fu Zhang, Tian-Ping Wang
1Department of Radiology,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, No, 419, Fang Xie Road, Shanghai 200011, China. zhanghe1977@gmail.com.
Background:
To investigate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at 3.0 T (3T), and especially the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), in discriminating ovarian thecoma from other adnexal solid masses.
Methods:
Eighteen thecomas or fibrothecomas, 14 ligamentous leiomyomas, and 24 other ovarian solid tumors underwent prospective DWI magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to routine MRI on a 3T MRI machine. The baseline characteristics, components, and conventional MRI and DWI-MRI signals for the thecomas were recorded. The ADC values (ADCs) were measured for each group and compared.
Results:
The thecomas often appeared as homogeneous isointensity (17/18) on T1-weighted images (T1WI; 11/18) or T2WI (11/18) on DWI-MRI, with minor (9/18) or mild (6/18) enhancement. The mean ADC value for thecoma (1.20 ± 0.45 × 10-3 mm2/s) was almost equal to that of the other solid ovarian masses (1.26 ± 0.51 × 10-3 mm2/s), but lower than that for leiomyoma (1.48 ± 0.42 × 10-3 mm2/s), although not significantly so. There was a significant difference (p = 0.043) in the ADCs of the benign ovarian solid masses (1.16 ± 0.47 × 10-3 mm2/s) and leiomyomas (1.48 ± 0.42 × 10-3 mm2/s).
Conclusions:
There is no significant difference in ADC between thecoma and other adnexal solid masses, but the ADCs of thecomas are lower than those of leiomyomas.
