[The diagnosis of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluation of the extension of ovarian carcinoma].

To evaluate the utility of Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors, preoperative CT of 23 patients and MRI of 10 patients with ovarian cancer were analyzed on the basis of their surgical findings. The stage suggested by CT and the stage revealed by surgery coincided in 16 cases (69.6%). The stage was underestimated by CT in 6 cases and overestimated in one case. The minimal size that could be detected by CT examination was 2 cm. The stage tended to be underestimated by CT. MRI examination with its unique soft tissue contrast in multiple planes is a detailed display of pelvic organs. However, the contrast of upper abdominal cavity was not so good, because of respiratory artifact. Sometimes there were false negative MRI in lymphatic metastasis. Therefore, MRI is more helpful in distinguishing local distension to pelvic organs than CT.