Corpus luteal cyst
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View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures- Corpus luteum cyst
- Corpus luteal (CL) cyst
- Corpus luteal cysts
- Corpus luteum cysts
- Corpus luteal (CL) cysts
- Cystic corpus luteum
Corpus luteal (CL) cysts are a type of functional ovarian cyst that results when a corpus luteum fails to regress following the release of an ovum. When associated with pregnancy, it is the most common pelvic mass encountered within the 1st trimester. There is also some overlap with the term "hemorrhagic corpus luteum".
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Pathology
The natural history of a normal corpus luteum is to regress by the end of the 1st trimester if pregnancy has occurred. If a corpus luteum fails to regress and instead enlarges with or without hemorrhage, a corpus luteum cyst is formed. There is some overlap in the definitions of a corpus luteum cyst and a hemorrhagic corpus luteum 5.
Natural course
When associated with pregnancy, most corpus luteal cysts spontaneously involute at the end of the 2nd trimester.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
They can have a range of sonographic appearances depending on the stage of evolution and age of the associated intracystic hemorrhage 3. General characteristics include 7:
diffusely thick wall
peripheral vascularity
usually 2-10 cm
possible crenulated contour
If the cyst has been present for some time with complicating hemorrhage, a fine internal lace-like echo-pattern may be seen.
Color Doppler shows either no vascularity within the cyst or shows low resistance blood flow around the cyst, also known as hypervascular ''ring of fire''.
CT
low-attenuating cyst (25 HU)
2-10 cm in diameter with thickened walls (mean 3 mm 6)
slightly irregular cyst
iso- or hyperattenuating walls 6
enhancing walls 6
free fluid is often associated 6
MRI
It is often seen as a round or oval adnexal lesion.
T1: typically homogeneously hypointense 1
T2: typically hyperintense 1-2
T1 C+ (Gd): intense wall enhancement may be seen 1
Treatment and prognosis
For a corpus luteal cyst ≤3 cm, no follow up is necessary 7.
Complications
Differential diagnosis
It can be difficult to differentiate from a tubal ring in ectopic pregnancy in some situations, and correct clinical interpretation is often required.
See also
References
- 1. Jung SE, Byun JY, Lee JM et-al. MR imaging of maternal diseases in pregnancy. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001;177 (6): 1293-300. AJR Am J Roentgenol (full text) - Pubmed citation
- 2. Siegelman ES, Outwater EK. Tissue characterization in the female pelvis by means of MR imaging. Radiology. 1999;212 (1): 5-18. Radiology (full text) - Pubmed citation
- 3. Merz E. Ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology, Gynecology. Thieme Publishing Group. (2007) ISBN:3137544025. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Swire MN, Castro-aragon I, Levine D. Various sonographic appearances of the hemorrhagic corpus luteum cyst. Ultrasound Q. 2004;20 (2): 45-58. Ultrasound Q (link) - Pubmed citation
- 5. Potter AW, Chandrasekhar CA. US and CT evaluation of acute pelvic pain of gynecologic origin in nonpregnant premenopausal patients. Radiographics. 2008;28 (6): 1645-59. doi:10.1148/rg.286085504 - Pubmed citation
- 6. Borders RJ, Breiman RS, Yeh BM et-al. Computed tomography of corpus luteal cysts. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2004;28 (3): 340-2. Pubmed citation
- 7. Levine D, Brown DL, Andreotti RF et-al. Management of asymptomatic ovarian and other adnexal cysts imaged at US: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Conference Statement. Radiology. 2010;256 (3): 943-54. doi:10.1148/radiol.10100213 - Pubmed citation
Incoming Links
- Focal adenomyosis with ovarian endometriomas
- Ruptured corpus luteum cyst with haemoperitoneum
- Subhepatic appendicitis
- Pregnancy with intrauterine contraceptive device
- Incarcerated umblical hernia
- Haemorrhagic ovarian cyst
- Ovarian torsion
- Ovarian transposition
- Corpus luteum cyst
- Corpus luteal cyst
- Ruptured haemorrhagic corpus luteal cyst
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