CT and MR imaging of malignant germinal and stromal ovarian tumours

Abstract

Malignant germ cell tumours are less common than epithelial ovarian tumours, accounting for less than 2–3 % of all ovarian cancers in Western countries. They usually occur in younger women with a peak incidence before 20 years. Malignant stromal tumours are developed on stromal tissue of the ovary and are frequently associated with hormonal secretion. In this group, malignant lesions are most represented by adult or juvenile granulosa cell tumours, Sertoli-Leydig tumours and fibrosarcoma. Imaging and in particular CT and MR may help to characterise and to stage preoperatively these rare tumours, and besides common malignant features, it might be useful to detect some specific features to better assess these lesions.