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 in the small number of cases that do not contain fat in the lumen of the 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 of fat.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a review of pathologic specimens of 78 mature cystic teratomas, we found 12 tumors without fatty fluid (sebum) in their cystic cavity. Histologically, a small amount of fat was present in the wall of the cyst in each case. We retrospectively reviewed MR images of these tumors. In seven tumors with small amounts of hyperintense tissue on T1-weighted MR images, opposed-phase and in-phase gradient-echo MR images were obtained in order to verify the presence of fat.

RESULTS

All 12 lesions were hypointense on T1-weighted MR images and markedly hyperintense on T2-weighted images, indicating that the cystic cavity contained aqueous fluid. Fatty tissue was not identified in the lumen or wall of the cyst on MR images in five of the 12 tumors. In seven tumors, MR images showed small hyperintense areas in the walls of the cysts. These hyperintense signals were canceled on opposed-phase gradient-echo images. Characteristic MR findings for mature cystic teratoma, such as reversed chemical-shift artifact, gravity-dependent layering, or dermoid plug, were not observed in any of the lesions.

CONCLUSION

MR images in some cases of mature cystic teratomas may show aqueous fluid within the lumen of the cyst. In such cases, detection of fat in the cyst wall, especially with gradient-echo MR imaging, may help to establish the diagnosis.