[Evaluation of contrast enhancement in gynecologic pelvic computed tomography (author's transl)]

A significance of contrast enhancement (CE) in CT (computed tomography) of gynecologic pelvic cavity has not yet been established despite of its application so far made for systemic CT scanner exploited in 1974. CT findings and tissue attenuation values (CT number) prior to I.V. injection was compared with those after infusion of contrast medium and observed the changes imaged on CT through contrast enhancement randomly carried out with 300 patients in need of CT diagnosis of intrapelvic lesion, and CE availability was assessed in terms of disorders. The results obtained are as follow; 1) CT was available, when CE was given, for 50% or more of the patients with endometrial cancer, trophoblastic disease, malignant ovarian tumor, and endometrial cyst. 2) CE availability was of significance in 40.7% of 30 subjects, in particular, being rated for 56.6% in adnexal diseases. 3) CE-induced changes in attenuation values of normal uterine body ranged from 44.2 +/- 6.6 to 87.5 +/- 8.9 Hounsfield units by which an increased CT number was indicated as being the high. 4) Tissue CT number and the CE-induced increase in cervical cancer were comparable to those in normal uterine body, while low in endometrial cancer and malignant ovarian tumor, allowing those tumors to discriminate from myometrium. 5) No increased attenuation values were seen in fluidal substances. 6) A significant information for diagnosis can be obtained through CE-induced increase in tissue CT number being a favorable aid for opacification.