Computed tomography of corpus luteal cysts.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the computed tomography (CT) features of corpus luteal cysts.


METHODS
We retrospectively identified 10 patients with a diagnosis of corpus luteal cysts established by ultrasound who had also undergone contemporaneous CT. A single attending radiologist, without knowledge of other clinical or radiologic findings, recorded the morphologic features of the cysts based on the CT images.


RESULTS
The corpus luteal cyst seen at sonography was visible at CT in all 10 patients. All cysts were unilocular, with a mean density of 25 HU (range, 12 to 45). The mean maximum axial cyst diameter was 2.2 cm (range, 1.4 to 2.9). The mean cyst wall thickness was 3 mm (range, 2 to 4). All cyst walls were crenulated. Cyst wall enhancement was hyperdense in 6 cases, isodense in 3 cases, and hypodense in 1 case. Free fluid was seen in 9 of 10 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
At CT, corpus luteal cysts are typically less than 3 cm in diameter and are characterized by a thick, crenulated, or hyperdense wall. Recognition of these CT findings should prevent misinterpretation or inappropriate management.
Borders
Rebecca J
RJ
Department of Radiology, University of California San Francisco, 94143, USA.
Breiman
Richard S
RS
Yeh
Benjamin M
BM
Qayyum
Aliya
A
Coakley
Fergus V
FV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed