Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radiological appearances of corpus luteum cysts and their imaging mimics

  • Pictorial Essay
  • Published:
Abdominal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To review the radiological appearances of corpus luteum cysts and their imaging mimics.

Conclusion

Corpus luteum cysts are normal post-ovulatory structures seen in the ovaries through the second half of the menstrual cycle and the first trimester of pregnancy. The typical appearance, across all modalities, is of a 1- to 3-cm cyst with a thick crenulated vascularized wall. Occasionally, similar imaging findings may be seen with endometrioma, ectopic pregnancy, tuboovarian abscess, red degeneration of a fibroid, and ovarian neoplasia. In most cases, imaging findings are distinctive and allow for a confident and accurate diagnosis that provides reassurance for patients and referring physicians and avoids costly unnecessary follow-up.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14
Figure 15
Figure 16
Figure 17
Figure 18
Figure 19
Figure 20
Figure 21

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Potter AW, Chandrasekhar CA (2008) US and CT evaluation of acute pelvic pain of gynaecologic causes of nonpregnant pre-menopausal patients. Radiographics 28(6):1645–1659. doi:10.1148/rg.286085504

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Tamai K, Koyama T, Saga T, et al. (2006) MRI of physiologic & benign conditions of ovary. Eur Radiol 16(12):2700–2711

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Durfee SM, Frates MC (1999) Sonographic Spectrum of the corpus luteum in early pregnancy: gray-scale, color, and pulsed doppler appearance. J Clin Ultrasound 27(2):55–59

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Brown DL, Dudiak KM, Laing FC (2010) Adnexal masses: US Characterization and reporting. Radiology 254(2):342–354. doi:10.1148/radiol.09090552

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Jain KA (2002) Sonographic spectrum of hemorrhagic ovarian cysts. J Ultrasound Med 21(8):879–886

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Chiang G, Levine D (2004) Imaging of adnexal masses in pregnancy. J Ultrasound Med 23(6):805–819

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lin EP, Bhatt S, Dogra VS (2008) Diagnostic clues to ectopic pregnancy. Radiographics 28(6):1661–1671. doi:10.1148/rg.286085506

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Alcazar JL, Guerriero S, Laparte C, et al. (2011) Diagnostic performance of transvaginal gray-scale ultrasound for specific diagnosis of benign ovarian cysts in relation to menopausal status. Maturitas 68(2):182–188. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.09.013

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bayoglu Tekin Y, Dede FS (2014) What is the success of ultrasonography of benign adnexal masses? J Obstet Gynaecol Res 40(2):473–478. doi:10.1111/jog.12208

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Levine D, Brown DL, Andreotti RF, et al. (2010) Management of asymptomatic ovarian and other adnexal cysts imaged at US Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound consensus conference statement. Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound. Ultrasound Q 26(3):121–131. doi:10.1097/RUQ.0b013e3181f09099

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Borders RJ, Breiman RS, Yeh BM, Qayyum A, Coakley FV (2004) Computed tomography of corpus luteal cysts. J Comput Assist Tomogr 28(3):340–342

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Blake MA, Singh A, Setty BN, et al. (2006) Pearls and pitfalls in interpretation of abdominal and pelvic PET-CT. Radiographics 26(5):1335–1353

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Khademi S, Westphalen AC, Webb EM, et al. (2009) Frequency and etiology of solitary hot spots in the pelvis at whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. Clin Imaging 33(1):44–48. doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2008.06.026

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Son H, Kositwattanarerk A, Hayes MP, et al. (2010) PET/CT evaluation of cervical cancer: spectrum of disease. Radiographics 30(5):1251–1268. doi:10.1148/rg.305105703

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bagga S (2007) A corpus luteal cyst masquerading as a lymph node mass on PET/CT scan in a pregnant woman with an anterior mediastinal lymphomatous mass. Clin Nucl Med 32(8):649–651

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ames J, Blodgett T, Meltzer C (2005) 18F-FDG uptake in an ovary containing a hemorrhagic corpus luteal cyst: false-positive PET/CT in a patient with cervical carcinoma. Am J Roentgenol 185(4):1057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Choi HJ, Kim SH, Kim SH, et al. (2003) Ruptured corpus luteal cyst: CT findings. Korean J Radiol 4(1):42–45

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Fiaschetti V, Ricci A, Scarano AL, et al. (2014) Hemoperitoneum from corpus luteal cyst rupture: a practical approach in emergency room. Case Rep Emerg Med 2014:252657. doi:10.1155/2014/252657

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Shin DS, Poder L, Courtier J, et al. (2011) CT and MRI of early intrauterine pregnancy. Am J Roentgenol 196(2):325–330. doi:10.2214/AJR.09.3723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Takeuchi M, Matsuzaki K, Nishitani H (2010) Manifestations of the female reproductive organs on MR images: changes induced by various physiologic states. Radiographics 30(4):1147. doi:10.1148/rg.e39

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Corwin MT, Gerscovich EO, Lamba R, Wilson M, McGahan JP (2014) Differentiation of ovarian endometriomas from hemorrhagic cysts at MR imaging: utility of the T2 dark spot sign. Radiology 271(1):126–132. doi:10.1148/radiol.13131394

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Choi NJ, Rha SE, Jung SE, et al. (2011) Ruptured endometrial cysts as a rare cause of acute pelvic pain: can we differentiate them from ruptured corpus luteal cysts on CT scan? J Comput Assist Tomogr 35(4):454–458. doi:10.1097/RCT.0b013e31821f4bd2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Frates MC, Visweswaran A, Laing FC (2001) Comparison of tubal ring and corpus luteum echogenicities. J Ultrasound Med 20:27–31

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Levine D (2007) Ectopic pregnancy. Radiology 245(2):385–397

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kao LY, Scheinfeld MH, Chernyak V, et al. (2014) Beyond ultrasound: CT and MRI of ectopic pregnancy. Am J Roentgenol 202(4):904–911. doi:10.2214/AJR.13.10644

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

DP was supported by NIBIB Grant 1R25EB016671.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code L340, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Apurva A. Bonde, Elena K. Korngold, Bryan R. Foster, Alice W. Fung, Roya Sohaey, David R. Pettersson, Alexander R. Guimaraes & Fergus V. Coakley

Authors
  1. Apurva A. Bonde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elena K. Korngold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bryan R. Foster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alice W. Fung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roya Sohaey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. David R. Pettersson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Alexander R. Guimaraes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Fergus V. Coakley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fergus V. Coakley.

Ethics declarations

Funding

This study was funded by NIBIB Grant (1R25EB016671).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed consent

For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

Additional information

CME activity

This article has been selected as the CME activity for the current month. Please visit https://ce.mayo.edu/node/25819 and follow the instructions to complete this CME activity.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bonde, A.A., Korngold, E.K., Foster, B.R. et al. Radiological appearances of corpus luteum cysts and their imaging mimics. Abdom Radiol 41, 2270–2282 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-016-0780-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-016-0780-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation