Surgical indications in antenatally diagnosed ovarian cysts

Antenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis and management of fetal ovarian cysts

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcome of fetal ovarian cysts in relation to their ultrasonic appearance and size.

METHODS

Forty-two fetal ovarian cysts were diagnosed in 41 fetuses and followed with serial ultrasonograms in utero and after birth until spontaneous or surgical resolution.

RESULTS

Twelve fetal ovarian cysts that were echogenic at diagnosis and six that were anechoic at diagnosis but became echogenic at subsequent prenatal sonograms were all submitted to postnatal surgery. Of the remaining 24 cysts, all anechoic, four were successfully aspirated in utero, 11 resolved spontaneously after birth, and nine underwent postnatal surgery for complication. The outcome of cysts that were anechoic at diagnosis was significantly correlated with size (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Echogenic fetal ovarian cysts should be always surgically removed. The outcome of anechoic cysts depends on the size at diagnosis, and serial ultrasonographic assessment is recommended; although not randomized, the present series suggests that in utero aspiration of cysts > 5 cm may prevent complication and subsequent oophorectomy.

Prenatal diagnosis and clinical outcome of ovarian cysts

Technical refinements of ultrasound (US) have greatly affected the antenatal diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cysts. From 1985 to 1990 25 consecutive fetuses with ovarian cysts were followed-up by US both during pregnancy and postnatally. All cases were diagnosed between the 28th and 39th weeks of gestation. Deliveries were all at term; cesarean section was required only for obstetric complications. Eight fetuses (32%) showed US patterns of cyst torsion, a finding confirmed at surgery in all. In five patients US patterns suggested complications postnatally that were also confirmed at operation. In six cases cysts increased or remained unchanged in size after 15 days of life: in 50% of these surgery showed ovarian torsion. In the remaining six cases spontaneous resolution occurred within 1 to 4 months. One patient required intrauterine needle aspiration. There were two cases of intestinal obstruction. To date, more than 60% of newborns with ovarian cysts require oophorectomy; however, different treatments (cystectomy, needle aspiration, uncapping) combined with a close US follow-up are likely to reduce this percentage.

Antenatally detected ovarian cysts--a therapeutic dilemma

Twenty-four instances of ovarian cysts detected antenatally are reported. Most cysts were functional in origin, histologically benign simple cysts. Pregnancy was clinically uncomplicated in all, followed by a spontaneous vaginal delivery in 20 cases between the 33rd and 41st week, four neonates were delivered by a cesarean section for obstetrical reasons. Nine cysts more than 5 cm in diameter at birth were treated surgically. The operative indications were as follows; 5 neonates had clinical symptoms caused by abdominal distention or vomiting. The remaining four showed a sign of hemorrhage following torsion. Thirteen cysts less than 5 cm in diameter, and two cysts more than 5 cm in diameter began to regress spontaneously within 6 months after birth and finally 10 of them disappeared between 2 weeks and 2 years.

Management of complex ovarian cysts presenting in the first year of life

With more frequent antenatal and postnatal diagnosis, the management of ovarian cysts has become somewhat controversial. Management protocols for simple ovarian cysts have been proposed. The purpose of this study was to establish a management protocol for complex ovarian cysts presenting antenatally and in the first year of life. We reviewed the records of nine infants who underwent surgical treatment for ovarian cysts over a 10-year period (1980 through 1989). Antenatal ultrasound performed between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation showed ovarian cysts in six infants. All six infants had complex cysts ranging in size from 3 to 10 cm on postnatal ultrasound. Exploration with oophorectomy or salpingooophorectomy was carried out at 2 days to 3 months of age for ovarian torsion. Ovarian cysts measuring up to 7 cm were diagnosed postnatally in three infants from 1 day to 7 months of age with ultrasound confirmation of complex, cystic intraabdominal masses. All patients underwent salpingooophorectomy, two for tuboovarian torsion and the third patient for a juvenile granulosa cell tumor. We recommend that all complex ovarian cysts, regardless of size, be surgically removed because they represent torsion, neoplasm, or alternate diagnoses, and removal can prevent possible complications.