Borderline ovarian malignancy: ultrasound and fast dynamic MR findings

Ovarian tumors of borderline malignancy are low-grade malignant neoplasms, and have a rather good prognosis. They account for approximately 10-20% of all ovarian tumors. Very few reports available in literature that analyses ultrasound and MR findings in establishing the diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to describe eight cases of ovarian tumors of borderline malignancy with dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging. Comparison is made with CA 125 serum levels and ultrasound findings. Early enhancing endocystic vegetations, local cystic masses in, and (irregular) thickened walls of large multicystic tumors were important findings in borderline malignant tumors. The accuracy to detect a malignant tumor of borderline malignancy with CA 125, ultrasound and MRI in these eight cases was 50, 63 and 75%, respectively. MRI is a valuable imaging modality to characterize adnexal tumors and might play a role in preoperative evaluation of borderline malignancies.