Ruptured corpus luteal cyst: CT findings.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the CT findings of ruptured corpus luteal cysts.


METHODS
Six patients with a surgically proven ruptured corpus luteal cyst were included in this series. The prospective CT findings were retrospectively analyzed in terms of the size and shape of the cyst, the thickness and enhancement pattern of its wall, the attenuation of its contents, and peritoneal fluid.


RESULTS
The mean diameter of the cysts was 2.8 (range, 1.5-4.8) cm; three were round and three were oval. The mean thickness of the cyst wall was 4.7 (range, 1-10) mm; in all six cases it showed strong enhancement, and in three was discontinuous. In five of six cases, the cystic contents showed high attenuation. Peritoneal fluid was present in all cases, and its attenuation was higher, especially around the uterus and adnexa, than that of urine present in the bladder.


CONCLUSIONS
In a woman in whom CT reveals the presence of an ovarian cyst with an enhancing rim and highly attenuated contents, as well as highly attenuated peritoneal fluid, a ruptured corpus luteal cyst should be suspected. Other possible evidence of this is focal interruption of the cyst wall and the presence of peritoneal fluid around the adnexa.
Choi
Hyuck Jae
HJ
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine Institute of Radiation Medicine, Korea.
Kim
Seung Hyup
SH
Kim
Sun Ho
SH
Kim
Hyo-Cheol
HC
Park
Chang Min
CM
Lee
Hak Jong
HJ
Moon
Min Hoan
MH
Jeong
Jun Yong
JY
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed