HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Takeuchi, M. Articles by Nishitani, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Takeuchi, M. Articles by Nishitani, H. Related Collections Genitourinary Radiology Magnetic Resonance Imaging Obstetric/Gynecologic Radiology

Malignant Transformation of Pelvic Endometriosis: MR Imaging Findings and Pathologic Correlation¹

¹ From the Departments of Radiology (M.T., K.M., H.N.) and Molecular and Environmental Pathology (H.U.), University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan. Presented as an education exhibit at the 2004 RSNA Annual Meeting. Received March 4, 2005; revision requested June 6 and received June 23; accepted June 29. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose. Address correspondence to M.T. (e-mail: mayumi{at}clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp).

Malignant transformation is a rare complication of endometriosis. Endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers are seen more often in younger women than are ovarian cancers without endometriosis, and early detection is important to improve the prognosis and preserve fertility. However, normal decidual change of the ectopic endometrium in an endometrioma during pregnancy must be differentiated from malignant transformation. The finding that is most important for a diagnosis of malignant change is the presence of one or more contrast material–enhanced mural nodules within a cystic mass at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Dynamic subtraction MR imaging is useful in depicting small contrast-enhanced nodules within the hyperintense endometrioma on T1-weighted images. Intracystic coagulate may mimic a mural nodule; the absence of contrast enhancement is the diagnostic clue to its benignity. Enlargement of the endometrioma and the disappearance of shading within the mass on T2-weighted images are suggestive of malignant transformation.

© RSNA, 2006

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S Ghattamaneni, M J Weston, and J A Spencer Imaging in endometriosis Imaging, December 1, 2007; 19(4): 345 - 368. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Del Frate, R. Girometti, M. Pittino, G. Del Frate, M. Bazzocchi, and C. Zuiani Deep Retroperitoneal Pelvic Endometriosis: MR Imaging Appearance with Laparoscopic Correlation RadioGraphics, November 1, 2006; 26(6): 1705 - 1718. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]