Ovarian tumor, benign

 

KEY POINTS

The tumors are often clinically silent until well developed; they may be solid, cystic, or mixed; and they may be functional (producing sex steroids as with arrhenoblastomas and gynandroblastomas) or nonfunctional

 

CYSTS                      functional, severe pain & hge, usually self limiting, Sx if uncontrolled bleeding

EPITHELIAL             serous cystadenocarcinoma, increases chance of malig, Rx excise

GERM CELL              Teratoma (dermoid cyst)

                                rarely malignant,

STROMAL CELL

 

Ovarian Cyst

2 ages: premenarche & post meno

                12yrs & 52yrs

types

               

OVARIAN CYST

Dx

US

                if >6cm then Sx

                if <6cm f/u in 2months

                                follicular resolves

                                if growing - Sx

                                if same - leave

Sx

                laparoscopy

                if >6cm - as risk of torsion

               

OCP                         some prefer for 2m observation to help resolve luteal cysts

 

OVARIAN TORSION

S/S

                sudden severe adnexal pain

                adnexal mass

vs ectopic pregnancy

                spotting

                less pain

 

Rx - Steps

1.             Sx - lap & detortion

                observe for 30 mins

2.             Oophorectomy

                                If necrosis/ poor perfusion

                otherwise cystectomy, leave ovary

 

COMPLEX CYST

dermoid

-

-

 

PRE-MEnarche cyst (rare)

Rx

if >2cm exploratory laparotomy

 

POST Menopausal

Rx

Any size laparatomy

 

GENITAL WART

Rx

CryoSx

Topical cream

                podophyline

                flurouracyl

                imiquimol

If larger

                excise

                CO2 laser

 

Sensitivity

                PAP          50%

                DNA         80%

 

DIAGNOSIS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

 Usually asymptomatic

 Pain related to torsion, endometriosis, or rupture

 Increased abdominal girth

 Bowel pressure or bladder pressure sensations

 Menstrual irregularities

 Hirsutism or sexual precocity

 Early satiety

 Dyspepsia/bloating

 

LABORATORY

 CBC

 Pregnancy test

 Urinalysis

 Endometrial biopsy or dilatation/curettage if mass accompanied by menstrual abnormality

 Pap smear

 ESR

 Guaiac stool testing

 Serum tumor markers as indicated

 Cancer antigen (CA) 125

 Alpha fetoprotein

 Chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG)

 Serum LDH

 Serum estrogens and androgens

 

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS

 Follicular (fluid distention of atretic follicle) and corpus luteum cysts (corpus luteum hematoma)

 Endometrioma

 Pregnancy luteoma (composed of hyperplastic stromal theca-lutein cells)

 Serous and mucinous cystadenomas and mixed serous/mucinous cystadenomas

 Granulosa cell tumors

 Benign connective tissue tumors (thecomas, fibromas, Brenner tumors)

 Cystic teratoma (dermoid cyst)

 Germinal inclusion cyst (regarded by some as the precursor for epithelial ovarian cancer)

 

MANAGEMENT

APPROPIATE HEALTH CARE Inpatient if surgery necessary

 

SURGICAL MEASURES

 Cystectomy or wedge resection for cyst with benign features

 Surgical removal of tumor to establish diagnosis when:

 Premenopausal cysts greater than 5 cm that persist more than 6-8 wks

 Mass that is solid

 Mass greater than 10 cm

 Mass in a premenarchal or postmenopausal female

 Suspicion of torsion or rupture

 Postmenopausal cysts

 Cysts with worrisome ultrasound features (e.g., papillations)

 

DRUG(S) OF CHOICE

In premenopausal patients with cystic lesions less than 10 cm in diameter, simple observation for 4-6 wks is acceptable. There is no evidence that use of a contraceptive pill is more effective than time alone in facilitating ovarian cyst resorption. If the cyst remains unchanged after 4-6 wks of observation, then surgical exploration is indicated.

Contraindications: Those established for OCPs (e.g., hypercoagulable state or history of DVT, ischemic heart disease, history of CVA, hypertension, hepatic adenoma).

Precautions: Refer to manufacturer's profile of each drug

Significant possible interactions: Refer to manufacturer's profile of each drug

 

PREVENTION/AVOIDANCE

Although oral contraceptives do not appear to increase rates of cyst resorption, they do decrease risk for forming new ovarian cysts

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

Complications of untreated dermoid and mucinous cysts may include pseudomyxoma peritonei

EXPECTED COURSE/PROGNOSIS

Complete cure

 

PREGNANCY

The majority of cysts discovered during pregnancy are corpus luteum or follicular cysts. The two most commonly encountered tumors during pregnancy are cystadenomas (serous or mucinous) and dermoid cysts.