title: Pathognomonic echo patterns of benign cystic teratomas of the ovary: classification, incidence and accuracy rate of sonographic diagnosis.
abstract: The great variability in the sonographic appearance of ovarian cystic teratomas poses difficulties for their diagnosis and classification. To overcome such difficulties, we have proposed a simplified classification of the pathognomonic echo patterns of ovarian cystic teratomas based on three basic types of echo pattern. In a prospective study of 118 echogenic adnexal masses, with postoperative histological confirmation, this classification enabled the correct diagnosis to be made in 115 cases (accuracy rate, 97.45%). In the three cases misdiagnosed preoperatively as ovarian cystic teratoma, the tumors proved to be benign and included a serous cyst adenoma, a serous cyst adenofibroma and a Brenner tumor. We suggest that, with our proposed classification of the echo patterns of ovarian cystic teratomas, sonography can become a quick and accurate tool in the recognition of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caspi
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Appelman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rabinerson
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Elchalal
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zalel
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001948:Brenner Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018293:Cystadenoma, Serous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013724:Teratoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography