PURPOSE : To describe the ultrasonographic features of struma ovarii and its pathologic correlation anddetermine the usefulness in differentiating struma ovarii from other malignant ovarian tumor.
MATERIAL & METHODS :The clinical, ultrasonographic, and pathologic findings of six patients in whom struma ovarii was pathologicallyconfirmed were reviewed retro-spectively.
RESULTS : We were able to observe three types of characteristicsonographic findings : 1) multilobulated solid mass with multiple small cystic areas (n = 1), 2) multilocularcystic mass with hick septa and solid areas (n = 3), 3) cystic or solid mass with typical features of teratoma,such as fat, mural nodule, and bone (n = 2). These findings were well correlated with pathologic findings. Fourpatients had scattered microcalcifications and linear or curvilinear calcifications in the septa and solid area.Color Doppler sonography revealed a blood flow in the solid portion, septa and walls of the cyst, and the range ofresistive index was from 0.39 to 0.48.
CONCLUSION : These characteristic sonographic findings may be useful fordifferential diagnosis of struma ovarii from other malignant ovarian tumor.