OVARIAN-CANCER RECURRENCE - VALUE OF MR-IMAGING

PURPOSE: To assess magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in depiction of ova rian tumor recurrence and for identification of patients who may not b enefit from surgical reexploration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospe ctive study, 34 patients (mean age, 57.07 years) with surgically stage d ovarian cancer underwent MR imaging before reexploration. Findings a t MR imaging and surgery were correlated. MR imaging tumor depiction w as correlated with tumor size, presence of ascites, and CA-125 levels. RESULTS: Tumor recurrence was identified in 29 patients at surgery. M R imaging depicted tumor in 20 patients. Accuracy for lesions smaller than 2 cm was 35% and increased to 82% for lesions larger than 2 cm (P < .01). MR imaging had low sensitivity for depiction of implants in t he peritoneum and mesentery. Ascites improved depiction of smaller les ions (< 2 cm). MR imaging in combination with CA-125 levels improved d etection of recurrent disease (CA-125 measurement alone 53% vs CA-125 measurement and MR imaging 75%, P = .048). CONCLUSION: MR imaging is a useful adjunct to the clinical examination to identify patients with recurrent disease and those in whom reexploration may not be beneficia l.