Management of prenatal ovarian cysts

Shimada, Takako; Miura, Kiyonori; Gotoh, Hideo; Nakayama, Daisuke; Masuzaki, Hideaki

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2007.12.002

« PreviousEarly Human Development
Volume 84, Issue 6 , Pages 417-420, June 2008

Management of prenatal ovarian cysts

Takako Shimada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nagasaki University Graduate, School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +81 95 849 7363; fax: +81 95 849 7365.
Kiyonori Miura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nagasaki University Graduate, School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan
Hideo Gotoh
- Gotoh Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, 364 Nishiohmurahon-machi, Ohmura, Japan
Daisuke Nakayama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nagasaki University Graduate, School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan
Hideaki Masuzaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nagasaki University Graduate, School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan

Received 16 August 2007; received in revised form 28 November 2007; accepted 11 December 2007.

Abstract

Objectives:

The aim of the present study was to analyze the antenatal and postnatal outcome of fetal ovarian cysts in relation to their ultrasonographic pattern and size.

Methods:

Sixteen fetal ovarian cysts were diagnosed in 16 fetuses and followed with serial ultrasonograms in utero and after birth until spontaneous or surgical resolution.

Results:

Eleven fetal ovarian cysts were simple cysts at first prenatal scan but 3 of the 11 became complex cysts at last prenatal scan and required postnatal laparoscopic surgery. Seven of the 11 simple cysts (63%) disappeared on follow-up imaging by ultrasonograms or MRI during pregnancy or within 2 months after birth. The rate of spontaneous resolution of simple cysts was higher than that of complex cysts (40.0%). The mean maximum diameter of the ovarian cysts before delivery that were subsequently excised surgically at postnatal period (50±13.4 mm) was not different from that of ovarian cysts that resolved spontaneously (42.8±12.8 mm, P=0.2918).

Conclusion:

In our study, cyst size did not predict the risk of ovarian loss. The opportunity of laparoscopic exploration versus conservative management needs to be investigated because some complex cysts resolved spontaneously in the postnatal period.

Keywords: Fetal ovarian cycsts, Spontaneous resolution, Postnatal surgery