Ovarian cystadenofibroma with solid nodular components masqueraded as ovarian cancer

Ovarian Cystadenofibroma: An Innocent Tumor Causing Early Postoperative Small Bowel Obstruction and Perforation Peritonitis

Ovarian serous cystadenofibroma (CAF) is a relatively uncommon variant of benign epithelial tumors of the ovary. It is frequently misdiagnosed as malignant ovarian mass, on both ultrasound (USG) and computed tomography (CT). Although most cases are easily treatable by surgery, some cases can present with life-threatening complications increasing patient morbidity and mortality. The present case report briefs about a 69-year-old female, P4 L4, who presented to the gynecology outpatient department with a complaint of pain in the lower abdomen for 2-3 months. USG and CT were suggestive of a suspicious-looking ovarian mass favoring malignancy. A staging laparotomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy with omental biopsy was done. Although the tumor was benign, extensive surgery, due to the suspicion of malignancy led to the patient developing early postoperative small bowel obstruction, mandating a re-exploration. CAF is a specific type of ovarian tumor that exhibits a combination of benign characteristics. This tumor presents as a partly cystic (containing fluid-filled sacs) and partly solid (composed of fibrous tissue) growth within the ovary, displaying a diverse architectural pattern. Mostly the diagnosis is incidental, on USG done for some other indication. CAF of the ovary needs a very high index of suspicion for diagnosis as these are frequently misdiagnosed as malignant ovarian masses. Although an innocent tumor, extensive surgery done for CAF, under suspicion for malignancy, can sometimes lead to serious complications.

Ultrasound Characteristics of Cystadenofibromas: A Retrospective Multicenter Study

ABSTRACT

Cystadenofibromas (CAFs) are relatively rare benign ovarian tumors. This study was to describe the ultrasound (US) findings of CAFs. Preoperative US information of 86 CAFs was retrospectively collected. To better illustrate their characteristic, 173 cystadenomas (CADs), 103 borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), and 129 cystadenocarcinomas (CACs) were recruited as match groups. Besides morphology evaluation, tumors were categorized by the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System US system. Higher-risk stratification in CAFs was more often being seen than CADs (63% of CAFs classified as Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 4 or 5 vs 35% in CADs). Cystadenofibromas more commonly appeared as unilocular or multilocular solid than CADs. Solid components presented in 59% of CAFs and papillary projections presented in 45%. More CAFs contained solid components and papillary projections than CADs (P < 0.0001). When compared with BOTs and CACs, less CAFs contained solid components (P < 0.017 and P < 0.0001). However, no significant difference was found in CAFs versus BOTs or CACs about the presence of papillary projections. Shadowing was identified in 58% of CAFs; however, in CADs, BOTs, and CACs, the proportion was 2%, 11%, and 11%, respectively. Presence of shadowing in CAFs was noticeably more than CADs, BOTs, and CACs (P < 0.017 or P < 0.0001). Similar to CADs, most CAFs were avascular (76%) and without ascites (99%), which were significantly different from BOTs and CACs. We concluded that the sonographic markers for CAFs that differ from malignant were presence of shadowing, avascular, and absence of ascites.

Pearls and Potential Pitfalls for Correct Diagnosis of Ovarian Cystadenofibroma in MRI: A Pictorial Essay

Ovarian cystadenofibroma is a benign ovarian tumor that is characterized by a consistent percentage of masses, which remain indeterminate in ultrasonography and require magnetic resonance (MR) investigation; they may mimic borderline or malignant lesions. Three main morphologic patterns, resembling different ovarian neoplasms, can be identified in cystadenofibromas: multilocular solid lesions, unilocular cystic lesions with parietal thickening, and purely cystic masses. However, a cystoadenofibroma has typical features, such as T2-weighted hypointensity associated with no restrictions in diffusion-weighted imaging (the so-called "dark-dark appearance") and progressive post-contrast enhancement (type I perfusion curve). The purpose of this study was to review the features of ovarian cystadenofibromas in MR imaging and to suggest pearls and pitfalls regarding their correct diagnosis.

Microcystic pattern and shadowing are independent predictors of ovarian borderline tumors and cystadenofibromas in ultrasound

OBJECTIVES

To determine the sonographic characteristics of borderline tumors (BoTs) and cystadenofibromas (CAFs).

METHODS

Preoperative sonograms from consecutive patients who had at least one primary epithelial tumor in the adnexa were retrospectively collected. All tumors were described using the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis terminology. Ultrasound variables were tested using multinomial logistic regression after univariate analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 650 patients were included in this study. Of these, 110 had a CAF, 128 had a BoT, 249 had a cystadenoma (CAD), and 163 had a cystadenocarcinoma (CAC). Nearly half of CAFs and more than half of BoTs and CACs appeared to be unilocular and multilocular solid on the ultrasound images, while CADs were predominantly uni- or multilocular (p < 0.001). Overall, shadowing was identified in 82/650 cases. Sixty-five of 110 (59.1%) CAFs exhibited an acoustic shadow, compared with only 4/249 (1.6%) in CADs, 7/128 (5.5%) in BoTs, and 6/163 (3.7%) in CACs (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 112/650 cases demonstrated microcystic pattern (MCP). Sixty-eight of 128 (53.1%) BoTs exhibited MCP, compared with only 5/249 (2.0%) in CADs, 19/163 (11.7%) in CACs, and 20/110 (18.2%) in CAFs (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that shadowing is an independent predictor of CAFs, while MCP is an independent predictor of BoTs.

CONCLUSIONS

Sonographic findings for CAFs and BoTs were complex and partly overlapped with those for CACs. However, proper recognition and utilization of shadowing or MCP may help to correctly discriminate CAFs and BoTs.

KEY POINTS

• Sonographic findings for borderline tumors and cystadenofibromas are complex and mimic malignancy. • Microcystic pattern and shadowing are independent predictors of borderline tumors and cystadenofibromas respectively.

Imaging in gynecological disease (16): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of serous cystadenofibromas in adnexa

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of serous cystadenofibromas in the adnexa.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients identified in the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) database, who had a histological diagnosis of serous cystadenofibroma and had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination by an experienced ultrasound examiner, between 1999 and 2012. In the IOTA database, which contains data collected prospectively, the tumors were described using the terms and definitions of the IOTA group. In addition, three authors reviewed, first independently and then together, ultrasound images of serous cystadenofibromas and described them using pattern recognition.

RESULTS

We identified 233 women with a histological diagnosis of serous cystadenofibroma. In the IOTA database, most cystadenofibromas (67.4%; 157/233) were described as containing solid components but 19.3% (45/233) were described as multilocular cysts and 13.3% (31/233) as unilocular cysts. Papillary projections were described in 52.4% (122/233) of the cystadenofibromas. In 79.5% (97/122) of the cysts with papillary projections, color Doppler signals were absent in the papillary projections. Most cystadenofibromas (83.7%; 195/233) manifested no or minimal color Doppler signals. On retrospective analysis of 201 ultrasound images of serous cystadenofibromas, using pattern recognition, 10 major types of ultrasound appearance were identified. The most common pattern was a unilocular solid cyst with one or more papillary projections, but no other solid components (25.9%; 52/201). The second most common pattern was a multilocular solid mass with small solid component(s), but no papillary projections (19.4%; 39/201). The third and fourth most common patterns were multi- or bilocular cyst (16.9%; 34/201) and unilocular cyst (11.9%; 24/201). Using pattern recognition, shadowing was identified in 39.8% (80/201) of the tumors, and microcystic appearance of the papillary projections was observed in 34 (38.6%) of the 88 tumors containing papillary projections.

CONCLUSIONS

The ultrasound features of serous cystadenofibromas vary. The most common pattern is a unilocular solid cyst with one or more papillary projections but no other solid components, with absent color Doppler signals. Most serous cystadenofibromas were poorly vascularized on color Doppler examination and many manifested acoustic shadowing. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.