Laparoscopic approach to adnexal mass in adolescents: A retrospective analysis

Abstract

Background: Adnexal masses result from benign or malignant lesions of ovarian, tubal and paratubal origin as well as pregnancy related causes such as mullerian anomalies, infectious causes and ectopic pregnancy. The current study aimed to evaluate the preoperative diagnosis, surgical procedure and histopathological findings of adolescent girls who underwent laparoscopic surgery for adnexal mass in our hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with adnexal mass was conducted over a period of one year from Jan 2014-2015. Overall 96 patients were included in the study after reviewing clinical records. In all the patients' malignancy was excluded by preoperative imaging with sonography, CT or MRI and tumor marker study. Results: Laparoscopy was the operative approach for all 96 patients. None resulted in malignant histology. Majority of the adnexal masses were simple cyst (28%), 11.4% were dermoid cyst, 2% were endometriotic cyst. One patient had tubal ectopic, 3 patients had Koch's abdomen and pelvis. Among them one 13 year old girl underwent rudimentary horn excision who presented as a para tubal mass with acute abdomen. Almost half of the patients (68.7%) presented with acute abdomen of which 41.6% were adnexal torsion. All adnexal masses were resected laparoscopically and the outcome was uneventful in all the patients. Conclusion: Laparoscopy is regarded as an appropriate surgical method for benign adnexal masses which was safe and effective even for giant ovarian cyst in well selected cases as most of the pelvic adnexal masses seen in adolescents and young girls are of benign nature.