Ovarian metastases: computed tomographic appearances

Computed tomographic scans of 34 patients with ovarian metastases were reviewed to assess the radiographic appearances and to correlate these with the primary neoplasms. Primary neoplasms were located in the colon (20 patients), breast (six), stomach (five), small bowel (one), bladder (one), and Wilms tumor of the kidney (one). The radiographic appearance of the metastatic lesions could be described as predominantly cystic (14 lesions), mixed (12 lesions), or solid (seven lesions). There was one false-negative examination which showed no ovarian enlargement, although neoplastic deposits were found on the ovary at laparotomy. The cystic and mixed lesions tended to be larger in overall diameter than the solid. The metastases from gastric carcinoma appeared solid in four of five cases. The metastases from the other neoplasms had variable appearances simulating primary ovarian carcinoma.     

Krukenberg瘤病理及CT表现特点

目的:探讨胃肠道来源Krukenberg瘤的CT表现。方法:回顾性分析11例Krukenberg瘤患者的CT表现、临床病史和手术病理结果。结果:11例Krukenberg瘤来源于胃癌6例,直肠癌1例,结肠癌2例,另2例原发灶不明。CT 扫描共发现19个卵巢肿块灶,双侧肿块8例,单侧3例;囊实混合性病灶15个,实性4个,实性成分可强化;肿块与周围组织边界清楚16个,不清楚3个。结论:双侧卵巢出现边界较清的囊实性或实性为主肿块,应考虑Krukenberg瘤可能。CT 是发现消化道原发灶及远处转移的可靠方法之一。     

Bilateral ovarian metastases from breast carcinoma on FDG PET-CT

We report the PET-CT appearance of bilateral ovarian metastases in a 51-year-old woman with a history of right breast carcinoma with osseous metastasis diagnosed 14 years earlier. The colon and stomach are the most common primary tumor sites in ovarian metastasis, followed by the breast, lung, and contralateral ovary. It is important to consider this form of neoplasm in the differential diagnosis because the treatment and prognosis will be different from a dyssynchronous primary tumor.     

结直肠癌肝转移瘤的CT动态增强强化特点及病灶分布规律

目的：探讨结直肠癌肝转移瘤的 CT 动态增强强化特点和病灶分布规律。方法：回顾性分析120例结直肠癌肝转移瘤患者的 CT 动态增强图像及临床资料,记录肿瘤原发灶部位、肝转移瘤的位置和数目、肝转移瘤的不同时相的强化特点及肠系膜下静脉汇入门静脉的位置。结果：CT 动态增强共检出肝内病灶486个,其中表现为环状强化灶245个（50．4％）,结节状强化灶183个（37．7％）,其他不典型强化灶58个（11．9％）。原发病灶位于右半结肠（右半结肠组）时,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异有统计学意义（P ＜0．05）。原发病灶位于左半结肠（左半结肠组）时,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异无统计义（P ＞0．05）。排除转移灶均匀分布于肝左、右叶的病例后,右半结肠组与左半结肠组肝转移灶的分布差异无统计学意义（P ＞0．05）。左半大肠癌肝转移患者中,肠系膜下静脉（IMV）汇入脾静脉（SPV）者34例,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异有统计学意义（P ＜0．05）。IMV 汇入肠系膜上静脉（SMV）者32例,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异有统计学意义（P ＜0．05）。IMV 汇入 SPV 与 SMV 汇合处者11例,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异无统计学意义（P ＞0．05）。结论：结直肠癌肝转移瘤的 CT 动态增强图像有一定特点,结直肠癌肝转移瘤的病灶分布有一定规律,了解这些情况有助于提高结直肠癌肝转移瘤的检出率和诊断符合率,减少误诊率。     

Gastric leiomyosarcoma: CT observations

The abdominal CT examinations of seven patients with gastric leiomyosarcoma (GLMS), proven by surgical or endoscopic biopsy or both in five patients and percutaneous aspiration biopsy in two, are reviewed. In the six patients studied prior to therapy, CT demonstrated that each of the primary gastric tumors was spherical or ellipsoidal, large (mean diameter 15 cm), and predominantly exogastric in location. Additional CT features of the primary tumor included necrosis in all six masses, a distinct gastric mural attachment in four, bubbles of gas or an air-fluid level or both in three, and mucosal ulceration in two. Direct tumor invasion of nearby organs was suggested by CT in four of the six patients, the spleen and pancreas representing the most frequent sites. Intraperitoneal spread of tumor was present in two patients; necrotic liver metastases accompanied three of the six primary tumors and were found in an additional patient examined 4 years after gastric resection. By accurately reflecting the biological behavior of GLMS, CT is an ideal imaging modality for studying this unusual neoplasm. Differential diagnosis and specificity of the CT findings are discussed.     

Adnexal masses in women with breast cancer: US findings with clinical and histopathologic correlation

PURPOSE: To correlate ultrasonographic (US), clinical, and histopathologic findings in patients with breast cancer who underwent surgery for adnexal masses evident at US. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database search yielded 54 patients with breast cancer and with adnexal masses at US and histopathologic examinations. Clinical, US, and histopathologic findings were correlated. RESULTS: Forty (74%) patients had benign adnexal masses, and 14 (26%) had malignant masses; three patients had both benign and malignant ovarian masses. Seven patients had primary ovarian cancer, and seven had breast metastases to the ovary. All breast metastases to the ovary were bilateral solid masses at histopathologic examination and occurred in women with stage IV breast carcinoma at the time of US. Eleven ovaries with breast metastases were solid at US. The remaining three ovaries with breast metastases had cystic components at US because of hemorrhage or coexistent benign ovarian cysts. Four of seven patients with primary ovarian carcinoma had bilateral ovarian tumors, and seven of 11 ovarian carcinomas were predominantly cystic at US. No patient with primary ovarian carcinoma had stage IV breast cancer. CONCLUSION: In this small series, half the ovarian malignancies in patients with breast cancer were primary ovarian carcinomas and half were breast metastases to the ovary. Breast metastases to the ovary most frequently are bilateral solid masses at US and are associated with stage IV disease at the time of US.     

Bilateral ovarian metastases from gastric carcinoma on FDG PET/CT

We report PET/CT appearance of bilateral ovarian metastases in a 63-year-old female patient with newly diagnosed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach. She was also found to have peritoneal metastasis on an outside CT study. Staging PET/CT demonstrates not only the hypermetabolic gastric primary tumor and peritoneal disease but also bilateral enlarged, moderately active ovaries. The patient subsequently underwent biopsies of bilateral ovaries which revealed metastatic disease from primary gastric carcinoma. It is important to consider this form of neoplasm in the differential diagnosis because the treatment and prognosis will be different from a dyssynchronous primary tumor.     

Computerized x-ray tomographic aspects of calcifying hepatic metastases. Incidence of cancer of colorectal origin

A total of 24 patients with liver metastases of the calcifying type were detected during CT scan imaging for cancer of different primary origin (colorectal, ovarian, mammary, gastric, prostatic, melanoma). These calcifying metastases represented 27% of the 89 liver metastases cases detected, and the incidence of a colorectal origin for these calcifying lesions (20% of cases) appears to be highly significant, their number being relatively larger than reported in previous studies. Identification of liver calcifications of possible diagnostic importance requires a two-stage CT scan investigation, before and after bolus. Paraclinical examinations should be directed selectively towards the digestive tract when the primary tumor is unknown.     

Computed tomography findings of ovarian metastases from colon cancer: comparison with primary malignant ovarian tumors

OBJECTIVE: The computed tomography (CT) findings of ovarian metastases from colon cancer were evaluated and were compared with those of primary malignant ovarian tumors. METHODS: Sixteen patients with 21 masses from colon cancer and 20 patients with 31 primary malignant ovarian tumors were included in this study. The CT findings (laterality, size, margin, shape, mass characteristic, strong enhancement of cyst wall, enhancement of solid portion, amount of ascites, peritoneal seeding, lymph node enlargement, and metastasis) and ages of the patients in both groups were compared. Univariate analysis, the Pearson chi test, and the independent-samples t test were used to distinguish them. RESULTS: A smooth margin of the tumor (odds ratio=24.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.9-204.2) and cystic nature of the mass (Pearson chi=12.96, P=0.005) were strong predictors of ovarian metastasis from colon cancer. CONCLUSION: Ovarian metastases from colon cancer show a smooth margin and more cystic nature on CT compared with primary malignant ovarian tumors.     

Influence of the primary malignant tumor site on the incidence and features of metastatic ovarian tumors

BACKGROUND/AIM: Ovary is the organ of the female reproductive system most commonly affected by metastases. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and features of metastatic ovarian tumors (MOT) depending on the site of the primary malignant tumor. METHODS: The study group consisted of 488 patients with histopathologically confirmed ovarian cancers treated at the Clinic of Oncology, Clinical Center Nis, in the period from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2005. MOT were found in 41 patients. Regarding the site of the primary malignant tumor, those with secondary ovarian tumor were divided into two groups: group A--primary malignant tumor involving the genital organs (n = 30) and group B--primary malignant tumor of extragenital origin (n = 11). RESULTS: MOT were confirmed in 8.40% (41/488) of the patients. Secondary ovarian malignancies were the consequence of endometrial carcinoma spreading in 73.17%, breast carcinoma in 19.51%, stomach carcinoma in 4.88% and colon carcinoma in 2.44% of the cases. No significant differences were found between the group A and group B by the factors of age, body mass index, parity and menopausal status. Contrary to the group A, metastatic tumors in the group B patients were more commonly asymptomatic (p < 0.001), bilateral (p < 0.05), with larger ovarian diameter (p < 0.05), associated with ascites (p < 0.001) and abdominal metastases (p < 0.01), all of statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic tumors made up 8.40% of ovarian neoplasmas. With non-genital primary tumors, secondary ovarian deposits were frequently asymptomatic, bilateral, associated with larger ovarian diameter, ascites and abdominal metastatic deposits, compared to malignant tumors of genital origin.     

Various image findings of skeletal muscle metastases with clinical correlation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe the image findings of distant metastases to skeletal muscle with clinical correlation. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: The records of nine consecutive patients with biopsy-proven metastases to skeletal muscle from primary malignancies were retrospectively reviewed for clinical history and findings from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (eight cases) or computed tomography (CT) (one case). Clinical history, interval between detection of primary tumor and metastases, multiplicity, primary cell type of malignancy, site of metastases, and nature of masses on MRI or CT were evaluated by two musculoskeletal radiologists. RESULTS: The most common symptom was a painful mass (78%), and the most common site was the thigh (78%). Four patients showed a single mass (44%). There was previous malignancy in five patients (56%), but four patients had no prior malignancy (44%). The time interval between the detection of primary malignancy and metastases was 8 months to 15 years. Mean size of metastases was 5.1 +/- 2.2 cm. The most common primary tumor was of the lung (two patients) and kidney (two patients), and the most common cell type was adenocarcinoma. On images, necrosis and peritumoral edema were relatively frequent. All cases showed good enhancement. of contrast medium. CONCLUSION: Skeletal muscle metastases show good enhancement of contrast medium and frequent edema and necrosis. The possibility of skeletal muscle metastases should be borne in mind for patients with painful and multiple muscle masses.     

Value of chest CT scans in routine ovarian carcinoma follow-up

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to examine the role of chest CT scans in routine follow-up of patients who had been treated for ovarian carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radiologic follow-up of 127 women with metatastic ovarian carcinoma who had undergone surgery and chemotherapy between 1985 and 1996 was reviewed. In reviewing each patient's medical record, we determined whether a chest CT scan had been obtained, and if so, how many had been obtained during the patient's follow-up period. For patients with a chest CT scan, an analysis of the presence of disease in the thorax and its relation to disease in the abdomen and pelvis, as revealed on CT images, was performed. RESULTS: Of the patients whose cases were examined, 82 (65%) had had at least one chest CT scan obtained, with more than 50% having had three or more scans. Thirty-two (39%) patients had no radiologic evidence of disease. Twenty-eight (34%) showed disease in the abdomen or pelvis but no disease in the chest. Eighteen (22%) had both chest and abdominal or pelvic CT scans that indicated disease. In all of these patients, abdominal or pelvic disease had appeared on scans before spreading to the chest. Four (5%) of the patients had isolated chest disease. The rate of lung metastases from ovarian carcinoma in our series was 6%. In all of these patients, pulmonary metastases were preceded either by abdominal or pelvic disease or by a rise in tumor markers. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary metastases in ovarian carcinoma are rare and usually preceded by recurrence of carcinoma in the abdomen or pelvis. We suggest that chest CT scanning could be eliminated in the routine follow-up of patients who have been treated for ovarian carcinoma; yet it should be performed for those patients with elevated serum tumor markers but without evidence of abdominal or pelvic disease.     

Metastases from malignant melanoma to the axial skeleton: a CT study of frequency and appearance

Radiologic detection of bone lesions from malignant melanoma is reported to be uncommon or infrequent. To ascertain the characteristics and frequency of detection of melanoma metastases to the axial skeleton by CT, we retrospectively reviewed 464 body CT studies of 125 consecutive melanoma patients for presence, appearance, and site of skeletal metastases. Results were correlated with patient's age, sex, clinical course, and both the Clark and Breslow classifications of the primary lesion. Of 98 patients with metastatic disease evident on their CT studies, 17 (17%) had bony metastases; two (12%) of these 17 patients had skeletal lesions as the only CT evidence of metastatic disease. Metastatic bony lesions were predominantly osteolytic, slightly expansile, and commonly located in the spine. Associated soft-tissue masses were frequent, but periosteal reaction and identifiable tumor matrix were not seen. Skeletal metastases were found only in those patients with thick or intermediate primary melanoma (Breslow) classified as Clark level III or greater, and the CT demonstration of osseous metastases was a poor prognostic sign. The data suggest that CT detection of skeletal melanoma metastases is not uncommon. When CT is performed to evaluate for metastatic melanoma, the axial skeleton should be carefully examined, especially in those patients with more advanced primary lesions.     

Radiological diagnosis of splenic metastasis and its prevalence at autopsy]

CT and US findings of 7 cases of splenic metastases are described and the prevalence of splenic metastases at autopsy in 641 cases with malignant tumors were evaluated. Metastatic foci in spleen appeared mostly as poorly-defined low density masses on CT. Iodinated contrast material was administered in 2 cases, but no contrast enhancement was observed. US showed both hypoechoic and hyperechoic patterns. These appearances were nonspecific, but were similar to those of metastatic lesions in the liver which were often visible on CT associated with splenic metastases. At autopsy splenic metastases were found in 34 of 641 cases (5.3%). Gastric, colon, lung and ovarian cancers were most common primary tumors. However, the rate of splenic metastasis per tumor was highest in ovarian cancer (50.0%), followed by malignant melanoma (33.3%), colon cancer (16.2%) and gastric cancer (8.2%). Hepatoma which had the biggest number of autopsy cases in this series showed the lowest rate of splenic metastasis (0.8%).     

The scintigraphy of somatostatin receptors in the carcinoid tumor

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of 111In-DTPA-D-Phe1-octreotide scintigraphy in the different situations that can be present when an examination is requested during the clinical course of the carcinoid tumor (CT). Materials and methods: We have performed 41 scintigraphies with 111In-octreotide (145-185 MBq) in 35 patients (19 females and 16 males) with clinically suspected or confirmed CT. The patients were classified into five groups: Group A: Indolent symptoms of CT (n=9); B: CT staging located in lung (n=4), stomach (n=2), cecum (n=1), thymus (n=1) and pancreas (n=1); C: Carcinoid syndrome (n=1); D: CT staging after surgery located in pancreas (n=1), ovary (n=1), cecum (n=1), stomach (n=1), appendix (n=1) and ileum (n=1); and E: Post-treatment follow-up (n=13), with CT located in bronchial tree (n=5), small intestine (n=3), appendix (n=2), thymus (n=1), ovary (n=1) and unknown primary tumor (n=1). Three patients of this group had one scintigraphic study before the treatment. Head and neck, thorax and abdomen images were obtained at 4 and 24 h in all of the patients and SPECT images of the abdomen (n=14), thorax (n=10), and brain (n=1) were obtained at 24 h in 25 patients. Results: Group A: In the 3 patients with a positive scintigraphy, the definitive diagnosis was meningioma, Hurtle cell's carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma. The clinical follow-up in the six other patients, at least during one year, did not show any evidence of CT. Group B: Six of the 9 CT were detected with the scintigraphy. In 2 cases of bronchial CT, the scan showed sarcoidotic regional lymph node involvement and CT hepatic and bone metastases, respectively. Group C: The scintigraphy detected hepatic metastases from an unknown primary tumor. Group D: The scintigraphy was positive in 3 cases (hepatic or/and abdominal metastases) and was normal in the other 3. The scintigraphy was negative in one patient with peritoneal metastases. Group E: The scintigraphy was normal in 7 patients in concordance with the clinical follow-up. In 3 patients with a scintigraphy performed prior to treatment, the scintigraphy detected recurrence (thymic CT), progression of the metastatic disease (ovarian CT) and partial regression of the hepatic metastases (carcinoid syndrome). In the three other patients, the scintigraphy showed metastases located in liver in one patient and hepatic and extra-hepatic metastases in the two other patients. The sensitivity and specificity of 111In-Octreotide in the detection of the primary tumor and metastases were 72% and 84% respectively. Conclusions: The 111In-Octreotide scintigraphy has a low diagnostic utility in patients with indolent symptoms of CT. However, it is the first line of diagnosis for the staging of the CT and to evaluate the follow up after therapy.     

18 F-FDG PET/CT显像探测原发肿瘤病灶的临床价值

目的探讨^18F-脱氧葡萄糖(FDG)PET/CT显像寻找原发肿瘤病灶的价值。方法对临床诊断转移瘤患者31例行唧CT显像，将其诊断结果与手术、活组织检查及临床随访结果对照。结果29例患者唧CT显像准确显示其原发灶，分别为结、直肠癌7例，肺癌13例，甲状腺癌3例，子宫恶性肿瘤4例，胰腺癌和鼻咽癌各1例。1例PET/CT检查未能确定其原发灶。另1例临床诊断为肾上腺转移瘤的患者，PET/CT显像为良性肿瘤，经CT动态增强检查及实验室检查证实。结论PET／CT显像对寻找转移瘤原发灶有重要价值。     

Serum tumor markers and PET/CT imaging for tumor recurrence detection

When confronted with a suspicious rise in CA 15.3 in asymptomatic breast cancer patients following primary treatment and negative or equivocal conventional imaging findings, FDG PET/CT allows assessment of the site and extent of the recurring disease with an accuracy of 83 %. Both FDG PET and FDG PET/CT are superior when compared to CT alone for the purpose of recurrence detection in patients suffering from ovarian carcinoma who have completed primary therapy but demonstrate a rising serum CA-125 level. As the global accuracy of CT alone for detection of recurrence of ovarian cancer approximates 80 %, CT scan should be performed upfront to identify the site of recurrence. When confronted with negative or equivocal CT findings, FDG PET alone or FDG PET/CT should be added. In patients with rising serum CEA levels that have undergone primary treatment for a colorectal carcinoma, both FDG PET and FDG PET/CT allow detection of tumor recurrence with an accuracy of 95 %, well above that of CT and MRI. Available studies further suggest that FDG/PET findings will affect treatment management in 28–50 % of these patients. The detection rate of both 11C-choline and 18F-choline PET and PET/CT for local, regional, and distant recurrence in prostate carcinoma patients with a biochemical recurrence increases with rising PSA value at the time of imaging and reaches about 75 % in patients with PSA >3 ng/mL. Furthermore, PET and PET/CT with [¹¹C]- and [¹⁸F]-choline derivates may be helpful in the clinical setting for optimization of individualized treatment.     

Primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum: four cases and review of computed tomography findings

Primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum is an uncommon primary malignancy of the peritoneum and is histologically indistinguishable from papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary. The diagnosis of primary peritoneal papillary serous carcinoma should be considered in the presence of peritoneal and omental masses in the absence of an ovarian mass. Although it has been extensively documented in the pathological and gynaecological oncology literature, the CT appearance of primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum has been reported in only 51 cases in five reports. We present four patients with CT findings of pathologically proven primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum. There were a total of 23 patients with a histopathologically proven diagnosis of primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum between 1980 and 2002 with CT imaging. However, only four of the 23 patients' CT films were retrieved for retrospective evaluation. The rest of the films were not available as either patients had misplaced the films or patients were deceased.     

胃癌介入治疗的疗效评价探讨

目的　评价胃癌介入治疗疗效评价更为可靠的标准。方法　分析病理证实的１０４ 例无手术指征的胃癌患者（ 含术后复发） 、影像诊断胃癌同时检出其他部位转移而无病理诊断者４３ 例,行胃动脉内化疗栓塞、转移灶化疗栓塞。术后用ＣＴ、ＧＩ和胃镜随访病灶。采用ＣＯＸ 肿瘤生存模型进行生存随访。结果　１ ． 胃癌原发灶治疗后,明显的缩小占６０．８ ％ ,２３．２ ％ 无明显反应,１７％ 在治疗中途出现病灶增大或转移至其他部位;ＣＴ随访碘化油沉积越浓,占肿瘤体积比例越大,滞留时间越长,肿瘤缩小越明显。淋巴结和转移灶在动脉内化疗栓塞后均有程度不等的缩小。２ ．１４７ 例患者中,至今存活５７ 例。首次治疗距统计日已满１２ 月者８５ 例,大于１２ 月者７９ 例,占５３ ．７％ （７９／１４７）;距统计日２４ 月者９４ 例,生存期等于或大于３６ 月者１９ 例,占１２．９ ％ ;距统计日５ 年以上者３１ 例,存活５ 年以上者９ 例,占６１．２％ 。结论　胃癌病灶介入治疗评价应包括原发灶、转移灶和淋巴结的改变,单纯以大小改变不能准确反映治疗疗效,更为主要的是肿瘤内部结构的变化。同时作者提出非肿块病灶缩小率的评价标准。     

Gastric cardia metastasis in esophageal carcinoma

To our knowledge, esophageal carcinoma that is metastatic to the gastric cardia has rarely been described in the radiologic literature. We examined seven patients who had a solitary metastasis in the gastric cardia that had spread from esophageal carcinoma. Five of the gastric lesions were synchronous with the primary lesion, and two developed after the primary tumor had been detected. Radiographically, the gastric lesion appeared as a submucosal mass in five patients and appeared to simulate a primary gastric carcinoma in the other two patients. The metastases had probably disseminated through the submucosal lymphatic system. Because the presence of a gastric metastasis may affect a patient's therapy, radiographic examination of the gastric fundus should be a routine part of the initial staging and/or follow-up evaluation of esophageal carcinoma.