Background: Characterization of an ovarian lesion represents a diagnostic challenge; the optimal assessment of an adnexal mass requires a multidisciplinary approach, based on physical examination, laboratory tests and imaging techniques. Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in detection, characterization and staging of adnexal masses. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an essential problem solving tool to determine the site of origin of a pelvic mass and then to characterize an adnexal mass, especially in patients with indeterminate lesions.
Aim of the Work: The aim of the study is to evaluate role of MRI as a powerful and noninvasive technique which may effectively characterize and differentiate between various suspicious ovarian lesions.
Patients and Methods: The current study is a prospective analysis that evaluated 26 female patients with 36 suspicious ovarian lesions. The study was conducted at Radiology Department of El-Demerdash hospital. The patients were previously evaluated by ultrasound examination in the period from November 2017 to April 2018. The patients' age ranged from 12 to 65 years old (mean age 41± 15 SD). 4 patients presented by abdominal swelling (15%), 8 were complaining of chronic pelvic pain (30.7%), 10 came with menstrual irregularities (38%) and 4 (15%) cases were accidentally discovered during US examination.
Results: This study included 36 ovarian lesions in 26 patients (8 cases had bilateral masses). The age in cases with benign lesions ranged from 12 to 65 years (Mean age 37.31 ± 16.214 SD), While the age in cases with malignant lesions; ranged from 14 to 61 years. (Mean age 44.38±14.015 SD) .
Conclusion: As an advanced technique, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) plays an important role in tumor detection and characterization, subtyping, prediction of prognosis, treatment monitoring, and drug development.