OVARIAN CYSTIC TERATOMAS - VALUE OF CHEMICAL FAT-SATURATION MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Chemical fat saturation (FS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the characterization of ovarian cystic teratoma was evaluated in 19 patien ts with 22 lesions. The tumour was evaluated for signal intensity, loc ation and size; the presence of chemical shift artefact, debris and fa t-fluid level. Ovarian cystic teratoma was diagnosed prospectively if the mass contained fat and/or more than one type of internal pattern o n (1) SE T1-, T2-, (2) SE T1-, T2-, FS T1-weighted images. A correct d iagnosis was reached in 17 of 22 tumours on conventional T1- and T2-we ighted images, and in 21 of 22 tumours when fat-saturation images were added. When fat-saturation images were added, four of five tumours mi sdiagnosed on conventional images were then correctly diagnosed. These tumours contained only small amounts of fat. Fat-saturation images co uld detect smaller amounts of fat than conventional images. However, o ne tumour did not show decreased intensity on fat saturation images, a nd was not diagnosed even when fat-saturation images were added. Fat s aturation images have been shown to be of value in diagnosing cystic t eratomas.