Differentiation between borderline and benign ovarian tumors: combined analysis of MRI with tumor markers for large cystic masses (≥5 cm).

BACKGROUND: There is overlap in imaging features between borderline and benign ovarian tumors.
PURPOSE: To analyze diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with tumor markers for differentiating borderline from benign ovarian tumor.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-nine patient with MRI and surgically confirmed ovarian tumors 5 cm or larger (borderline, n = 37; benign, n = 62) were included. On MRI, tumor size, septal number (0; 1-4; 5 or more), and presence of solid portion such as papillary projection or septal thickening 0.5 cm or larger were investigated. Serum tumor markers (carbohydrate antigen 125 [CA 125] and CA 19-9) were recorded. Multivariate analysis was conducted for assessing whether combined MRI with tumor markers could differentiate borderline from benign tumor. The diagnostic performance was also analyzed.
RESULTS: Incidence of solid portion was 67.6% (25/37) in borderline and 3.2% (2/62) in benign tumors (P < 0.05). In all patients, without combined analysis of MRI with tumor markers, multivariate analysis revealed solid portion (P < 0.001) and CA 125 (P = 0.039) were significant for predicting borderline tumors. When combined analysis of MRI with CA 125 ((i) the presence of solid portion or (ii) CA 125 > 44.1 U/mL with septal number ≥5 for borderline tumor) is incorporated to multivariate analysis, it was only significant (P = 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of combined analysis of MRI with CA 125 were 89.1%, 91.9%, 86.8%, 93.4, and 90.9%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Combined analysis of MRI with CA 125 may allow better differentiation between borderline and benign ovarian tumor compared with MRI alone. © The Foundation Acta Radiologica 2015.