Role of Imaging Tools for the Diagnosis of Borderline Ovarian Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2017 Mar-Apr;24(3):353-363. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2016.12.012. Epub 2016 Dec 24.

Abstract

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) have a low malignant potential and occur most often in young women. Its preoperative diagnosis can improve surgical strategy and reproductive approach. This study systematically reviews the literature for the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS), magnetic resonance (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) in the diagnostic of BOTs. We conducted a search in PubMed/Medline of articles in English from the last 5 years and included 14 studies for systematic review, 9 of them in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensibility and specificity was respectively 77.0% and 83.0% for TVUS (5 studies) and 85% and 74% for MRI (4 studies) in differentiating benign from malignant BOTs. CT and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT techniques were heterogeneous between studies, so a meta-analysis was not performed for the 4 studies on CT and PET-CT. However, these 4 studies have also shown a high accuracy in differentiating BOTs from malignant ovarian cancers.

Keywords: Borderline ovarian tumors; Computed tomography; Diagnosis; MRI; PET-CT; Ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Cystadenofibroma / diagnosis*
  • Cystadenofibroma / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Ultrasonography / methods