Susceptibility weighed imaging for diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis cyst

Objective To investigate the value of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) for the diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis cyst. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical profiles of 12 cases with ovarian endometriosis cysts, who had a total of 16 lesions, between May 2012 and November 2012. Eighteen patients with confirmed ovarian cystic lesions were enrolled in the control group following surgery. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and SWI scan were undertaken to analyze the characteristics of signals regarding cyst fluid and wall for comparison on the difference in the adjusted phase. Results Multiple low-intensity dotted signals were detected from SWI in 16 affected sites of ovarian endometriosis cyst wall. The morphology and internal structure was explicitly dis played following adjustment of the phase images. This was evidenced by the low-intensity signals lining the cyst wall and internal septum and moderate-intensity signals indicating the presence of cyst fluid. Compared with miscellaneous cystic lesions, endometriosis cyst yielded a significant difference in the adjusted phase (t=-2.395, P=0.023). Conclusion The adjusted phase images derived from SWI, when compared with conventional MRI, may more explicitly dis play the morphology of ovarian cysts. Their combination is associated with an improved diagnostic power to screen ovar ian endometriosis cysts.