Purpose : To compare the value of Gd-DTPA enhanced, fat-suppression T1-weighted (Gd-FST1SE) MR images in the diagnosis of female pelvic disorders with that of fast spin-echo T1-weighted(T1FSE) and fast spin-echo T2-weighted(T2FSE) MR images. Materials...
Purpose : To compare the value of Gd-DTPA enhanced, fat-suppression T1-weighted (Gd-FST1SE) MR images in the diagnosis of female pelvic disorders with that of fast spin-echo T1-weighted(T1FSE) and fast spin-echo T2-weighted(T2FSE) MR images. Materials and Methods : Pelvic MR images of 42 women (24 ovarian disorders, 19 uterine disorders) were reviewed by two radiologists. Discrimination of normal anatomic structures, identification of pathologic lesions and recognition of internal structure of the lesions such as solid and cystic portion, papillary nodule, septa and wall were evaluated using a scoring system. The Friedman two-way ANOVA test was used for data analysis. Results : T2FSE was useful for evaluation of the uterine cervix(T1/T2/Gd, 2.5/3.9/2.8, respectively), junctional zone(1.6/3.1/2.5), endometrium (2.0/3.3/3.0), ovary(1.1/2.1/1.7) and uterine myoma(1.7/2.4/2.1)(P<0.001), but secondary degeneration was best visualized on Gd-FS T1SE. The Gd-FS T1SE ; lymphadenopathy(3.4/1.5/3.7) was better visualised on this modality than on eithor TIFSE or T2FSE. Gd-FS T1SE images also clearly depicted papillary projection(2.4/3.1/3.8) and the solid component (2.9/3.1/3.5) of ovarian cystic neoplasm(P<0.01). The confidence level in the identification of ovarian mass, internal septation and surrounding wall of cystic neoplasm was not improved on Gd-FS T1SE. Conclusion : The Gd-FS T1SE images were useful for the evaluation of metastatic lymphadenopathy in uterine cervical malignancy and for identification of the solid component and papillary projection of ovarian cystic neoplasm.