Retroperitoneal schwannoma presenting as an ovarian tumour in pregnancy

Is Ultrasound a Reliable and Reproducible Method for Assessing Adnexal Masses in Pregnancy? A Systematic Review

In this study, we aimed to systematicallyreview the current evidence regarding the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in assessing adnexal masses in pregnancy. The Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and EMBASE databases were searched for all types of clinical studies that utilised ultrasound for the diagnosis of adnexal masses in pregnancy. Only studies that used outcome measures of either histological diagnosis or significant regression of the adnexal mass on imaging follow-up were included. The quality of each study was assessed for risk of bias. The diagnostic performance of ultrasound in each study type was calculated, along with the pooled diagnostic performance of ultrasound in differentiating benign from malignant masses. The initial search yielded 4,915 articles, of which 2,547 qualified for abstract screening. A total of 83 articles were included in this review, including one prospective cohort study, six retrospective observational studies, seven case series, and 69 case reports. In the included studies, the total number of adnexal masses was 559. The mean patient age was 29.2 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 28.7-29.7), with a mean gestational age at diagnosis of 13.8 weeks (95% CI: 13.2-14.4). The mean quality assessment score was 75%. The International Ovarian Tumour Analysis Simple Rules were used in two articles, whereas subjective impression was used in the remaining 81 articles. The most frequently diagnosed mass was a simple or physiological cyst (35%). The prevalence of malignancy in the entire sample was 46/559 (8%; 95% CI: 34-61%). The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of ultrasound in detecting ovarian malignancy were 64% (95% CI: 30-88%), 88% (95% CI: 64-97%), 5.6 (95% CI: 1.2-25.4), and 0.4 (95% CI: 0.15-1), respectively. In conclusion, currently, there is a lack of high-quality prospective studies to guide the management of adnexal masses in pregnancy. Ultrasound appears to have an adequate accuracy in differentiating benign from malignant masses; however, more research is required to assess the role of ultrasound models, rules, and subjective assessment in pregnancy compared to non-pregnant women.

Primary retroperitoneal tumor during pregnancy: Case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To report the case of a pregnant patient diagnosed with a primary retroperitoneal tumor and to conduct a review of the literature pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment and maternal-fetal prognosis of this disease condition during pregnancy.

METHODS

A 19-year-old patient who presented with a retroperitoneal tumor identified on ultrasound. The results of the percutaneous biopsy showed a benign tumor. A healthy neonate was delivered by cesarean section. Surgical resection was performed four months later, and histopathology showed a mature cystic teratoma. A search was conduced in the Medline via PubMed, Lilacs, SciELO and ScienceDirect databases using the terms "pregnancy," "neoplasms," and "retroperitoneal neoplasms," including case reports and case series of retroperitoneal tumors during pregnancy. Diagnosis, treatment and maternal-fetal prognosis were identified.

RESULTS

Overall, 1658 titles were identified. Of these, 34 case reports and 1 case series met the inclusion criteria. Of the cases, 62.9 % were benign. Diagnosis was made as an incidental finding in 63 % of cases, and 77 % of the masses were identified on ultrasound. Percutaneous biopsy was used in 8 % of cases, including the case reported here. Surgical treatment was used in 88 % of cases usually after delivery. Maternal mortality occurred in 8.5 % of cases. Fetal prognosis was good in 65 % of the pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite being frequently benign, retroperitoneal tumors during gestation have a reserved maternal and fetal prognosis in a substantial number of cases. There is a need to assess the risks and benefits of percutaneous biopsy.

Retroperitoneal schwannoma mimicking an adnexal mass in pregnancy

A 36-year-old pregnant woman attended her first trimester scan and there was an incidental finding of a right-sided complex cystic adenexal mass. Further investigations including repeat pelvic ultrasound scans and MRI were performed due to its complex nature but were inconclusive. Multidisciplinary team review of images found the mass to be retroperitioneal, neurogenic in origin and involving the L5 vertebrae. The pregnancy continued to term and the baby was delivered at 39 weeks gestation by elective caesarean section due to the mass being likely to obstruct progress in labour. Postnatal biopsy confirmed a schwannoma. Plans were made for resection however as the woman was asymptomatic she declined surgery in favour of completing her family. She conceived again 2 years later and a second pregnancy was managed in the same way. The size of the schwannoma remained stable throughout this period.