Diagnostic methods for ovarian cystic tumors

Ovarian cystic tumor is actually a benign tumor, but it can also be malignant. Especially in women over 40 years old, they can be said to be a high-risk group for these diseases. Therefore, they need to pay attention to inspection and prevention in their daily lives.

1. Ultrasound manifestations:

(1) Serous cystadenoma:

① The tumor is generally 5 to 10 cm in size, with a round or oval sound-transmitting dark area and enhanced echogenicity of the posterior wall.

②The cyst wall is thin and smooth with clear boundaries.

③It can be single-chamber or multi-chamber. In the multi-chamber case, intracystic septa can be seen.

④ If there is a solid mass on the cyst wall protruding into the cystic cavity, it should be considered as a serous papillary cystadenoma.

(2) Serous cystadenocarcinoma.

① The surface of the tumor is uneven, partly cystic and partly solid.

② There are scattered floating light spots and light clusters in the sound-translucent dark area of ​​the cyst, which are bloody contents.

③ The cyst wall thickens and presents substantial papillary protrusions, which grow into the cyst cavity or infiltrate the surrounding areas.

④ A few tumors contain psammoma bodies, which appear as speckled strong echoes.

(3) Mucinous cystadenoma:

① Mostly unilateral, presenting as an oval liquid dark area with a large volume.

② It has a honeycomb-like multi-chamber structure with cystic cavities of varying sizes. The small cystic aggregation areas may present mass-like solid echoes.

③The cyst wall is smooth and thick, with bright light bands, and the cyst septa are thin.

(4) Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma:

① The mass has a clear outline, uneven wall thickness, and in many places, solid masses with irregular edges can be seen protruding into the cystic cavity.

② The solid part of the cyst cavity has liquid echoes and denser light spots inside.

③ When the tumor infiltrates outward, it causes unclear boundaries or adhesion with the surrounding areas.

2. CT manifestations:

(1) Ovarian cystadenomas are generally large in size, with clear edges, low density, and a water-like appearance.

(2) Irregular or rough calcifications may sometimes be seen inside or on the cyst wall of serous cystadenomas. Its important features are unilaterality, calcification, and non-lobularity.

(3) The density of mucinous cystadenoma is slightly lower than that of soft tissue, and the cyst wall is generally of medium thickness.

(4) In the absence of metastasis, ovarian cystadenocarcinoma cannot be differentiated from benign cystadenomas. Cystadenomas have irregular calcifications and internal septa, which are rarely seen in cystadenocarcinoma.