MATURE CYSTIC TERATOMAS OF THE OVARY WITHOUT FAT IN THE CYSTIC CAVITY- MR FEATURES IN 12 CASES

OBJECTIVE. The diagnosis of mature cystic teratoma may be overlooked i n the small number of cases that do not contain fat in the lumen of th e cyst. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MR appearance of mature cystic teratomas containing little or no fat and to determine the value of gradient-echo MR imaging for detection of small amounts o f fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In a review of pathologic specimens of 7 8 mature cystic teratomas, we found 12 tumors without fatty fluid (seb um) in their cystic cavity. Histologically, a small amount of fat was present in the wall of the cyst in each case. We retrospectively revie wed MR images of these tumors. In seven tumors with small amounts of h yperintense tissue on T1-weighted MR images, opposed-phase and inphase gradient-echo MR images were obtained in order to verify the presence of fat. RESULTS. All 12 lesions were hypointense on T1-weighted MR im ages and markedly hyperintense on T2-weighted images, indicating that the cystic cavity contained aqueous fluid. Fatty tissue was not identi fied in the lumen or wall of the cyst on MR images in five of the 12 t umors. In seven tumors, MR images showed small hyperintense areas in t he walls of the cysts. These hyperintense signals were canceled on opp osed-phase gradient-echo images. Characteristic MR findings for mature cystic teratoma, such as reversed chemical-shift artifact, gravity-de pendent layering, or dermoid plug, were not observed in any of the les ions. CONCLUSION. MR images in some cases of mature cystic teratomas m ay show aqueous fluid within the lumen of the cyst. In such cases, det ection of fat in the cyst wall, especially with gradient-echo MR imagi ng, may help to establish the diagnosis.