Learning objectives
To describe and analyse the characteristics of ovarian fibromas based on computed tomography (CT) images, and to highlight the diagnostic clues for this type of tumour.
Background
Ovarian fibromas belong to a class of benign sex cord-stromal cell tumours comprised of spindle-shaped fibroblastic cells and collagen and represent 4% of all ovarian neoplasms.[1,2,3]Ovarian fibromas most frequently occur in middle-aged women, with an average age at diagnosis of 48years.[2,4]Fibromas are typically slow-growing and can grow from initially small to very large tumours.
The clinical presentation can be nonspecific and may include a pelvic mass, metrorrhagia, and abdominal pain or distension.[5]Small tumours are frequently asymptomatic. As the mass slowly increases in size, the affected...
Findings and procedure details
We report a case series of three patients who underwent abdominal CT after presenting with an abdominal mass.
Case 1
A 49-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of abdominal mass. On physical examination, a palpable mass in the pelvic area of the abdomen was detected. CT revealed a solid, multilobulated mass, smooth margins measuring 16.8 x 28.4 x 26.2 cm on the right ovary that showed multiple calcifications within the mass. Ascites was also found in the pelvic cavity (Figure 1).
[Fig 1]
Case...
Conclusion
Ovarian fibromas are unilateral in about 90% of cases and are rarely malignant. Ovarian fibromas most frequently occur in middle-aged women, with an average age of 48 years.[2,4]In this report, all cases were unilateral and occurred after the age of 48 years. In the three cases presented here, all patients complained of a distended abdomen and the presence of a hard, palpable lump. Similar to other pelvic masses, no specific symptoms led to a precise diagnosis in these three cases of ovarian fibroma.
On CT,...
Personal information and conflict of interest
H. W. Utama:
Nothing to disclose
L. Mardiyana:
Nothing to disclose
H. Nugroho:
Nothing to disclose
G. A. Sugianto:
Nothing to disclose
References
Parwate NS, Patel SM, Arora R, Gupta M. Ovarian fibroma: A clinico-pathological study of 23 cases with review of literature. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India. 2016 Dec;66(6):460-5.
Horta M, Cunha TM. Sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary: a comprehensive review and update for radiologists. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. 2015 Jul;21(4):277.
Shen Y, Liang Y, Cheng X, Lu W, Xie X, Wan X. Ovarian fibroma/fibrothecoma with elevated serum CA125 level: A cohort of 66 cases. Medicine. 2018 Aug;97(34).
Sugiyama A, Urushihara N, Fukumoto...