Ovarian Epithelial Tumors of Borderline Malignancy : Sonographic Findings

Abstract

PURPOSE : To describe the ultrasonographic features of ovarian epithelial tumors of borderline malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS : The clinical, pathologic and sonographic findings of 25 cases in 23 patients which were confirmed as ovarian epithelial tumors of borderline malignancy were retrospectively reviewed. Histologic type of tumors were serous in seven cases, mutinous in 14 cases, and mixed, Brenner, clear cell, serous surface papillary tumor in each one case, respectively. RESULTS : At sonography, the tumor size ranged from 5.8 to 30 cm in diameter(mean 16.7 cm). The most common findings were thick irregular septum in 94.1% of cases, endocystic vegetation or solid portion in 83.3%. These were followed by multilocularity, thick wall, or ascites in 70.8%, irregular wall in 66.7%, and peritoneal seeding in 16.7%. Endocystic vegetation was found more commonly in serous tumors (100%) than in mutinous tumors (50%). Serous tumors showed thick septum (88.3%) and unilocular cyst (57.1%), whereas mutinous tumors showed thick septum (100%) and multilocular cyst (85.7%). Color Doppler sonography revealed a blood flow in the wall, septum, and endocystic vegetation or solid portion and the mean resistive index was 0.37. CONCLUSION : The ultrasonographic features of ovarian epithelial tumors of borderline malignancy included thick irregular septum, endocystic vegetation or solid portion, multilocularity, thick irregular wall, ascites, peritoneal seeding, and low resistant flow. The presence of endocystic vegetation, thick septum, and multilocularity were useful features for differentiating serous and mutinous tumors.