Cystic teratoma of the ovary: CT detection

Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 38 patients with 41 benign cystic teratomas of the ovary and two patients with malignant transformation. CT depicted all tumors. The presence of fat in 40 of 43 cases (93%), tooth or calcification in 24 of 43 (56%), Rokitansky protuberance in 35 of 43 (81%), tufts of hair in 28 of 43 (65%), and a fat-fluid level in five of 43 (12%) allowed a definite diagnosis of ovarian cystic teratoma in 42 of 43 cases (98%). In the two cases of malignancy, single large (greater than 10 cm) plugs (with uptake of contrast medium in one) with a cauliflower appearance and an irregular border forming an obtuse angle with the inner wall of the cyst suggested malignant transformation. In three cases of benign cystic teratoma, a mucinous tumor (one benign, one borderline, one malignant) arising in the same ovary was seen at pathologic examination but was only diagnosed with the help of CT in two of three cases. Thickening of the tube was noted in two cases of torsion of the adnexa. CT findings were compared with findings at radiography of the abdomen and hysterosalpingography in 30 cases, ultrasound in 31, and magnetic resonance imaging in three. This study demonstrated that CT was the best procedure for imaging cystic teratomas of the ovary.