[en] Various imaging methods of endometrial cancer were evaluated. Transabdominal ultrasound tomography, intracavitary radial scanning ultrasound tomography, CT and gallium-67 scintigraphy were reviewed, and their clinical usefulness was described. (Chiba, N.)

[en] Being a semi-fixed organ, the normal uterus showed variable shapes on CT, but generally, demonstrated a single solid pattern with a smooth margin, in continuation to the vaginal portion. The vaginal portion was visualized as a solid form localized in the cavity, and the uterine cervix and body appeared in series. The uterus usually emerged at 2 - 3 cm above the pubis, and the uterine base was revealed by the distance of 9 cm. By non-contrast enhancement, CT values were 40 - 55 Hounsfield unit (HU) at an almost iso-density with the surrounding organs. By 10 minute drip infusion (most desirable in view of duration) of 100 ml of 65% angiografin, CT values increased in correlation with the blood concentration of the drug, showing a peak of over 100 HU. The rate of this increase was low in other organs. CT values of the greatest gluteal muscle visualized at each level of inrapelvic CT were 40 - 60 HU by means of pre-contrast and less than 80 HU in the maximum of post-contrast. The ileopsoas muscle showed similar values. (Chiba, N.)

[en] A restrospective analysis was carried out of 17 magnetic resonance images obtained in 13 patients with histologically proven endometrial cyst. Endometrial cysts were seen as high-intensity areas on short and long spin echo and inversion recovery images. This is in sharp contrast with images of other gynecologic masses such as ovarian and uterine masses. Endometrial cysts had evidently decreased Tl when compared with other gynecologic masses. Magnetic resonance imaging proved to have a great potential in the differentiation of endometrial cysts from cystic ovarian masses and some uterus myoma that is frequently difficult on ultrasound and X-ray computed tomography. (Namekawa, K.)

[en] RI scintigrams are useful in the diagnosis of intrauterine abnormalities during pregnancy, including placenta previa, placenta lobita, placental apoplexy, hydatidiform mole, etc. The usefulness of combined ultrasonography and RI scintigraphy in the diagnosis of placenta previa was determined. RI scintigraphy compensated for the disadvantages of ultrasonography and made a more accurate diagnosis possible. In the future, it will be possible to make an even more accurate diagnosis by the application of new RI, more efficient detectors, and the combined use of RI scintigraphy and ultrasonography. (Nishio, M.)

[en] To improve diagnostic accuracy of radionuclide examinations in malignant tumors of gynecological region, various pre-treatments carried out before ⁶⁷Ga-scintigraphy were discussed, and usefulness of ⁶⁷Ga-citrate was also discussed. Prior to ⁶⁷Ga-scintigraphy, contents of the intestine were excreted thoroughly, complete urination was done, and 200 ml of saline solution was injected into the bladder cavity. Then, a tandem used for intracavitary irradiation was inserted into the uterine cavity and the rectal cavity. When ⁶⁷Ga-scintigraphy was carried out, a vinyl tube of which point was applied with a small amount of sup(99m)Tc was passed through the tandem in order to mark positively the fundus of the uterine cavity, the external uterine cavity, and the rectum. Radioisotopic markers on the skin were placed on bilateral anterior superior and inferior iliac spines, promontrium or upper margin of the tumor. By these pre-treatments, the configuration of the pelvic cavity was obtained precisely, backgrounds within the pelvic cavity decreased, and ⁶⁷Ga accumulation in the pelvic cavity could be discussed from the uterine axis. Therefore, the image analysis became easy. (Tsunoda, M.)

[en] In the diagnostic imaging of female pelvic lesions, the recognition of the uterus is considered to be an essential step for analyzing the image. Ultrasonically, the presence of uterus can be confirmed by echo pattern and level of intensity, and in CT, by the pattern and density. In both modalities, the uterine image is widely accepted as smoothly outlined solid mass Nevertheless, pathological findings show a wide range of variety in the image. With some obstructive cause of cervical canal, uterine body is displayed to be cystic, that is ''cystic uterus''. The cystic uterus, especially associated with neoplasma, must be differentiated from other cystic lesions. In such cystic uterus, the following images in CT and US can usually be observed: (1) close-up of tumor with vagina, (2) positional relationship of tumor with pelvic structures, especially ureters, (3) characteristic shape-smoothly outlined, gourd-shaped cystic lesion, (4) homogeneously thick, ''high density'' mass wall. (5) Partial projection of mass wall into cavity, so called ''cervical sign'', (6) nature of accumulated fluid containing the necrotic debris, suggesting the endometrial neoplastic change, and (7) rule out the other solid mass from pelvic cavity. (author)

[en] The purpose of this study was to examine the appearance of struma ovarii on MR and CT images. All 13 patients showed both cystic and solid components with a multilobulated surface and thickened septa. Various signal intensities were seen on both T1WI and T2WI. The cystic component, which showed low signal intensity on T2WI, showed high density on CT images. The characteristic MR and CT appearance of struma ovarii appears to be that of multicystic tumor indicating the presence of viscid materials containing iodine. (author)

[en] The value of MRI was compared with that of US with respect to noninvasiveness, indications, time of examination, artifacts, and potential of differential diagnosis of masses in 44 patients with surgery- or biopsy-proven ovarian masses. MRI was superior in the qualitative diagnosis of cystic masses because of high contrast resolution. It had more sensitivity to blood components than US. A major disadvantage of MRI was longer time required for examination. (Namekawa, K.)

[en] The prognosis of uterine carcinosarcoma is generally poor, its detection rates by cytological and histopathological tests are usually low, and authors have pointed out the usefulness of MRI identification as in the title. The purpose of the present paper is to arrange and confirm the identification method above prospectively. MRI and histopathological diagnoses of patients were compared on uterine mesenchymal (309 cases) and epithelial-mesenchymal mixed (7 cases) tumors. MRI equipments used were Toshiba FLEXART 0.5T and Philips CYROSCAN Intera 1.5T. Fast spin echo method was used for T2-enhaced imaging, and dynamic MRI was performed 25-120 sec after rapid intravenous injection of the gadolinium-contrasting agent. It was confirmed that those tumors giving weak to intense signals heterogeneously in their inner parts in T2-enhanced image, and giving the effective contrasting in dynamic one, are highly possible to be uterine carcinosarcoma. (T.I.)