[MRI visualization of venous drainage helps determine the origin of pelvic masses.].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of detecting at MRI an ovarian vascular pedicle or prominent vessels between the uterus and large tumors for determining whether masses originate in the ovary or uterus.


METHODS
We reviewed MRI studies from 80 patients with histologically confirmed pelvic masses greater than 7cm in diameter. We evaluated the presence of gonadal veins draining the tumors and the presence of vessels between the surface of the lesion and the uterus.


RESULTS
We detected gonadal veins draining the pelvic masses in 36 of the 43 tumors originating in the ovaries (84%); we detected vessels between the uterus and the pelvic mass in 30 of the 37 tumors that originated in the uterus (81%). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the presence of gonadal veins draining the lesion were 84%, 95%, 95%, and 83%, respectively, for ovarian masses, and 81%, 91%, 88%, and 85%, respectively, for vessels between the uterus and the mass in subserous myomas.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluating the venous drainage of pelvic tumors is very useful in cases in which it is not easy to establish the origin of the tumor.
Galant Herrero
J
J
Resonancia Magnética del Sureste, Clínica Mesa del Castillo, Murcia, España. galant@scannermurcia.com
Martí-Bonmatí
L
L
Roca
V
V
Calbo
J
J
Picazo
N
N
Puerta
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014680:Veins; D055815:Young Adult