Ovarian remnant syndrome.

Twenty-seven patients with ovarian remnant syndrome were operated on by the author in a 7-year period. All patients presented with pelvic pain as their major symptom. A mass was palpable in 20 patients. In 3 patients, no mass was palpable but a lesion was visible on computed tomographic scanning. In 4 patients, there was no palpable mass and scans were negative, yet an ovarian remnant was found at laparotomy. Segmental bowel resection was necessary to obtain clearance in 8 patients, and partial bladder resection was performed in 2. Previous pelvic operations (mean, 4.3) in this group of patients probably contributed to the development of this syndrome. The ovarian remnant syndrome occurs in a patient who has previously had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A piece of ovarian tissue remains, and this remnant often produces symptoms, usually pelvic pain and associated dyspareunia. Usually the patient has had a hysterectomy as well as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, so that the pain is often dismissed as 'not gynaecological' in origin. This syndrome is not synonymous with residual ovary syndrome, in which an ovary that has previously been intentionally conserved either develops an abnormal pathological process or causes symptoms necessitating its surgical removal (6). Unfortunately, awareness of the problems caused by an ovarian remnant is not widespread, and often these patients have been to many gynaecologists, general surgeons, or even psychiatrists in an attempt to get relief from their symptoms. It is not possible to estimate the incidence of symptomatic ovarian remnants, but certainly when an awareness of the syndrome develops, referral of patients with the problem is common.