Brenner tumor of the ovary - ultrasound features and clinical management of a rare ovarian tumor mimicking ovarian cancer

Benign Brenner tumor of the ovary: two-dimensional and contrast-enhanced ultrasound features-a retrospective study from a single center

Objective

Benign Brenner tumor (BBT) is a rare ovarian tumor, and there are few discrete reports about its manifestation in an ultrasound. This study sought to investigate the two-dimensional (2D) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of this entity.

Methods

This is a retrospective single-center study. The clinical manifestations, laboratory examination, and ultrasound data of 25 female patients with BBT were confirmed by pathology when they underwent 2D and/or CEUS examination at Ningbo First Hospital from January 2012 to June 2023. The ultrasound findings of the patients were analyzed using the terminology of the International Organization for the Analysis of Ovarian Tumor and were read by two senior sonographers who reached an agreement.

Results

Among the all 25 patients, most of them were unilateral, and only one patient was bilateral. Thus, 26 lesions were found: 44.0% (11/25) were in the left and 52.0% (13/25) were in the right. Moreover, 53.84% (14/26) were solid lesions, 15.38% (4/26) were mixed lesions, and 26.92% (7/26) were cystic lesions. Among the solid-type patients, 42.85% (6/14) of the cases were with calcification. Upon laboratory examination, 12.0% (3/25) of the patients had high carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) level, and 19.04% (4/21) of the patients had an elevated carbohydrate antigen724 (CA-724) level in the serum tumor markers. In the hormone test, 14.28% (3/21) were found to have a high postmenopausal estrogen level and 14.28%(3/21) were found to have a high level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). One patient with complex manifestations and three with solid manifestations were examined by CEUS to observe the microcirculation perfusion of the tumor. One with solid and cystic separation was rapidly hyperenhanced and cleared, and the filling subsided faster than the uterus. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was benign Brenner tumor with mucinous cystadenoma. The other three cases were solid adnexal lesions, which showed isoenhancement on CEUS and disappeared slowly, synchronizing with the uterus. The CEUS results were considered as benign tumors and confirmed by pathology.

Conclusions

BBT can show ovarian cystic, mixed cystic and solid type, and solid echo in 2D ultrasound. Unilateral ovarian fibrosis with punctate calcification is an important feature of BBT in 2D ultrasound. However, for solid adnexal masses and mixed cystic and solid masses with unclear diagnosis, if CEUS shows isoenhancement or hyperenhancement, the possibility of BBT cannot be excluded.

Borderline Brenner tumor of the ovary with mucinous metaplasia: A case report

Key Clinical Message

To date, there have been disparate reports regarding borderline forms of Brenner tumors, while research on concomitant mucinous proliferation is even more irregular; however, it has been observed that proper diagnosis and treatment have proven to have a favorable prognosis on the aforementioned tumor.

Abstract

Brenner tumor is a rare epithelial ovarian neoplasm responsible for 2%-3% of all ovarian tumors. These tumors are usually asymptomatic and can usually be found incidentally in pathological studies. They can also manifest themselves as abdominal pain or abnormal uterine bleeding. A 41-year-old female with a history of anemia referred to the hospital suffering from abdominal pain for at least 1 month before the referral period. Physical examination revealed a mobile palpable mass in the left lower abdomen. Ultrasound and pelvic computed tomography scan (CT scan) revealed a left ovarian complex cyst. Left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed on the patient, and the cyst was removed. Pathological findings revealed an atypical proliferative Brenner tumor with mucinous metaplasia. To date, there have been disparate reports regarding borderline forms of Brenner tumors, while research on concomitant mucinous proliferation is even more irregular; however, it has been observed that proper diagnosis and treatment have proven to have a favorable prognosis on the aforementioned tumor.

Comparison of performance between O-RADS, IOTA simple rules risk assessment and ADNEX model in the discrimination of ovarian Brenner tumors

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical and sonographic features of ovarian benign Brenner tumor (BBT) and malignant Brenner tumor (MBT), and to compare performance of four diagnostic models in differentiating them.

METHODS

Fifteen patients with BBTs and nine patients with MBTs were retrospectively identified in our institution from January 2003 and December 2021. One ultrasound examiner categorized each mass according to ovarian-adnexal reporting and data system (O-RADS), international ovarian tumor analysis (IOTA) Simple Rules Risk (SR-Risk) assessment and assessment of different neoplasias in the adnexa (ADNEX) models with/without CA125. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to compare diagnostic performance.

RESULTS

Patients with MBT had higher CA125 serum level (62.5% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.009) and larger maximum diameter of lesion (89 mm vs. 43 mm, P = 0.009) than did those with BBT. BBT tended to have higher prevalence of calcifications (100% vs. 55.6%, P = 0.012) and acoustic shadowing (93.3% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.004), and lower color scores manifesting none or minimal flow (100.0% vs. 22.2%, P < 0.001). Areas under curves of O-RADS, IOTA SR-Risk and ADNEX models with/without CA125 were 0.896, 0.913, 0.892 and 0.896, respectively. There were no significant differences between them.

CONCLUSION

BBTs are often small solid tumors with sparse color Doppler signals, which contain calcifications with posterior acoustic shadowing. The most common pattern of MBT is a large multilocular-solid or solid mass with irregular tumor borders, and most were moderately or richly vascularized at color Doppler. These four models have excellent performance in distinguishing them.

Application of Ultrasound Scores (Subjective Assessment, Simple Rules Risk Assessment, ADNEX Model, O-RADS) to Adnexal Masses of Difficult Classification

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound features help to differentiate benign from malignant masses, and some of them are included in the ultrasound (US) scores. The main aim of this work is to describe the ultrasound features of certain adnexal masses of difficult classification and to analyse them according to the most frequently used US scores.

METHODS

Retrospective studies of adnexal lesions are difficult to classify by US scores in women undergoing surgery. Ultrasound characteristics were analysed, and masses were classified according to the Subjective Assessment of the ultrasonographer (SA) and other US scores (IOTA Simple Rules Risk Assessment-SRRA, ADNEX model with and without CA125 and O-RADS).

RESULTS

A total of 133 adnexal masses were studied (benign: 66.2%, n:88; malignant: 33.8%, n:45) in a sample of women with mean age 56.5 ± 7.8 years. Malignant lesions were identified by SA in all cases. Borderline ovarian tumors (n:13) were not always detected by some US scores (SRRA: 76.9%, ADNEX model without and with CA125: 76.9% and 84.6%) nor were serous carcinoma (n:19) (SRRA: 89.5%), clear cell carcinoma (n:9) (SRRA: 66.7%) or endometrioid carcinoma (n:4) (ADNEX model without CA125: 75.0%). While most teratomas and serous cystadenomas have been correctly differentiated, other benign lesions were misclassified because of the presence of solid areas or papillae. Fibromas (n:13) were better identified by SA (23.1% malignancy), but worse with the other US scores (SRRA: 69.2%, ADNEX model without and with CA125: 84.6% and 69.2%, O-RADS: 53.8%). Cystoadenofibromas (n:10) were difficult to distinguish from malignant masses via all scores except SRRA (SA: 70.0%, SRRA: 20.0%, ADNEX model without and with CA125: 60.0% and 50.0%, O-RADS: 90.0%). Mucinous cystadenomas (n:12) were misdiagnosed as malignant in more than 15% of the cases in all US scores (SA: 33.3%, SRRA: 16.7%, ADNEX model without and with CA125: 16.7% and 16.7%, O-RADS:41.7%). Brenner tumors are also difficult to classify using all scores.

CONCLUSION

Some malignant masses (borderline ovarian tumors, serous carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, endometrioid carcinomas) are not always detected by US scores. Fibromas, cystoadenofibromas, some mucinous cystadenomas and Brenner tumors may present solid components/papillae that may induce confusion with malignant lesions. Most teratomas and serous cystadenomas are usually correctly classified.

Ultrasound Features and Ultrasound Scores in the Differentiation between Benign and Malignant Adnexal Masses

BACKGROUND

Several ultrasound (US) features help ultrasound experts in the classification of benign vs. malignant adnexal masses. US scores serve in this differentiation, but they all have misdiagnoses. The main objective of this study is to evaluate what ultrasound characteristics are associated with malignancy influencing ultrasound scores.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of ultrasound features of adnexal lesions of women managed surgically. Ultrasound characteristics were analyzed, and masses were classified by subjective assessment of the ultrasonographer (SA) and other ultrasound scores (IOTA Simple Rules Risk Assessment SRRA, ADNEX model, and O-RADS).

RESULTS

Of a total of 187 adnexal masses studied, 134 were benign (71.7%) and 53 were malignant (28.3%). SA, IOTA SRRA, ADNEX model with or without CA125 and O-RADS had high levels of sensitivity (93.9%, 81.1%, 94.3%, 88.7%, 98.1%) but lower specificity (80.2%, 82.1%, 82.8%, 77.6%, 73.1%) with similar AUC (0.87, 0.87, 0.92, 0.90, 0.86). Ultrasound features significantly related with malignancy were the presence of irregular contour, absence of acoustic shadowing, vascularized solid areas, ≥1 papillae, vascularized septum, and moderate-severe ascites.

CONCLUSION

IOTA SRRA, ADNEX model, and O-RADS can help in the classification of benign and malignant masses. Certain ultrasound characteristics studied in ultrasound scores are associated with malignancy.

Brenner tumors

Brenner tumors are rare ovarian neoplasms composed of ovarian transition cells surrounded by dense fibrous tissue. Most of them are small tumors (<2 cm), detected incidentally in asymptomatic women. Its predominantly fibrous content results in relatively low signal on T₂ weighted images, establishing differential diagnosis with ovarian fibroma and thecoma. Their imaging features are very similar, the differentiation is based on secondary characteristics, such as signs or symptoms of estrogen excess and the presence of a second ovarian neoplasm, which has been reported in up to 30% of patients with Brenner tumor. Although originally thought to be universally benign, there have been scattered reports in the past decades of borderline and malignant forms of Brenner tumors.

Current update on the molecular genetics and management of hereditary ovarian cancers: a primer for radiologists

More than one-fifth of ovarian cancers are hereditary, with most of them caused by BRCA genes. Malignant ovarian neoplasms are primarily epithelial tumors, a heterogeneous group of tumors with variable genetic backgrounds that translate into different biologic behaviors and morphologic features. Radiologists play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and management of oncology patients. Familiarity with hereditary ovarian cancers will have a positive impact on patient management and radiologists' involvement in the multidisciplinary approach needed for this delicate patient population. In this paper, we review the basic histologic and genetic backgrounds of ovarian tumors with an emphasis on hereditary ovarian cancers, as well as the effects that these factors have on patient workup, primarily with regard to imaging studies.

Current update on malignant epithelial ovarian tumors

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) represents the most frequently occurring gynecological malignancy, accounting for more than 70% of ovarian cancer deaths. Preoperative imaging plays an important role in assessing the extent of disease and guides the next step in surgical decision-making and operative planning. In this article, we will review the multimodality imaging features of various subtypes of EOC. We will also discuss the role of imaging in the staging, management, and surveillance of EOC.

Benign Brenner tumour of the ovary: CT and MRI features

AIM

To evaluate the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of benign Brenner tumours (BBT) of the ovary.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a retrospective two-centre study comprising 35 female patients with a definitive diagnosis of BBT at histology in whom CT and/or MRI examinations had been performed. Two experienced radiologists reviewed the CT and MRI features of 39 ovarian BBT retrospectively with consensus reading. The morphological appearance and size of each tumour were recorded. The presence or absence of calcifications within the solid portion was noted at CT. The reviewed characteristics at MRI included qualitative assessment of the signal intensity of the solid portion on diffusion sequence and contrast enhancement, compared to that of the myometrium.

RESULTS

CT and MRI images were available for 27 and 28 lesions, respectively. Sixteen patients had both CT and MRI examinations. BBT were unilateral in 89% of patients, and 49% of lesions were solid and 51% were mixed. Calcifications were depicted at CT in 70.4% of lesions. When present, the cystic portion was multilocular in 85% of cases and corresponded to a mucinous lesion in 74% of cases. Enhancement of the solid portion at MRI was inferior or equal to that of the myometrium in 89% of cases and signal on high b-values diffusion images was deemed low or moderate in 93% of cases.

CONCLUSION

The combined CT and MRI findings of a unilateral fibrous ovarian mass containing punctate calcifications often associated with a multilocular cyst suggest the diagnosis of ovarian BBT.

Laparoscopic management of uncommon benign uterine tumors: a systematic review

The objective of the study was to review the reported cases of uncommon benign uterine tumors managed by laparoscopy. Medline database was searched using predefined search terms linked to atypical leiomyomas, leiomyoma variants, laparoscopy and morcellation. Quality of articles was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. Due to heterogeneity in reporting characteristics of the patients, radiological findings, macroscopic findings, histological characteristics and follow-up, we performed a narrative synthesis. We included 109 cases of leiomyoma variants managed by laparoscopy. This stands for an incidence of 2.5% out of all the included laparoscopic management of leiomyomas. These cases were approached as classic leiomyoma. Only after the final histological results that their uncommon aspect was diagnosed. Intra-operatively, the management was similar to that of leiomyoma, with either myomectomy or hysterectomy performed depending on each individual case. Follow-up of these cases was variable: one case (0.9%) recurred as peritoneal sarcoma after 5 years of follow-up. It is important for the gynecologist, radiologist and pathologist to be aware about leiomyoma variants trying to diagnose them preoperatively. Strict follow-up of these cases is mandatory, because of the risk of recurrence and the very low but possible risk of future sarcomas.