title: Spontaneous detorsion of the ovary: can it be diagnosed by MRI?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether recent progress in imaging has made it possible to diagnose spontaneous detorsion, which is an accepted concept in the gynecological literature but until now has been a presumptive diagnosis that could not be confirmed because of the lack of imaging proof.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for patients who had a diagnosis of spontaneous detorsion on MRI between January 2000 and January 2003, and selected only patients who met a selection of strict criteria, including mainly enlargement and hyperintensity of ovarian stroma on T2-weighted (T2W) images, clinical findings compatible with torsion and detorsion, and return of the stroma to normal size on follow-up examinations. Other signs of torsion, such as tubal thickening, were appreciated but not mandatory. Clinical follow-up for at least three years was available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patients met the study criteria. No stabilizing procedure was performed in the ovaries. One patient recurred and lost her ovary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis of torsion followed by spontaneous detorsion was made with high probability in a selected number of patients. The clinical management of such patients remains a matter of debate. Laparoscopy with oophoropexy would be useful for young patients in whom close follow-up cannot be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hôtel Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon. ghossain@cyberia.net.lb
authors.forename: Michel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ghossain
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hachem
authors.forename: Noël J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Aoun
authors.forename: Soha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haddad-Zebouni
authors.forename: Fersan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suidan
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abboud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000175:diagnosis; D014463:Ultrasonography