Radiological diagnostics of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is diagnosed in stages FIGO III/IV in up to 75% of cases. Despite medical advances the 5-year survival rate has only been moderately increased to 44% during recent years. The initial evaluation is performed using transvaginal ultrasound (US) (sensitivity 90-96%, specificity 98-99% for detection of ovarian lesions). Probably benign findings will be followed-up sonographically or will be laparoscopically excised. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows a definitive diagnosis in more than 90% of sonographically indeterminate lesions. Malignant lesions require computer tomography (CT) staging and treatment in gynecooncology centers in a multidisciplinary setting. Peritoneal implants larger than 1 cm are detected equally by CT and MRI. Detection of ascites which is associated with peritoneal carcinomatosis in up to 80% of cases is equally feasible by US, CT and MRI.