Magnetic resonance spectral analysis of ovarian teratomas

Abstract

Mature cystic teratomas are relatively common ovarian neoplasms that usually contain mature tissues of ectodermal mesodermal or endodermal origin. The presence in the pelvis of a detached and freely mobile ovarian teratoma is rare and often diagnosed incidentally. Following complete ovarian torsion and therefore interruption of its arterial blood supply the tumor undergoes atrophy necrosis and autoamputation. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) utilizes the same hardware as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but it provides information about the biochemical metabolism of living cells. It is used to measure protoncontaining compounds such as amino acids organic acids and sugars in tissue specimens. There have been few reports of MRS use to evaluate ovarian teratomas. Two cases of ovarian teratoma of which one was a mobile calcified intrapelvic mass (the result of autoamputation) are presented and the value of MRS for ovarian teratoma is discussed. To our knowledge this is the first report of MRS use to assess an autoamputated ovarian teratoma. (excerpt)