Can preoperative findings help to interpret neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions of ovary and affect surgical decisions in children and adolescents?

BACKGROUND

Ovarian masses are common in all pediatric age groups. Ovarian-sparing surgery is favored since most cases are benign or functional cysts. Detection of a few malignant cases prevents morbidity and mortality. Objective: to investigate which of the preoperative findings can help to distinguish the pathology of the ovarian lesions, affect the surgical decision and predict the possibility of ovarian preservation.

METHOD

Patients operated with diagnosis of ovarian mass were enrolled in the study between 2000-2015. Age, symptoms, physical examination findings, tumor markers, radiologic features, operative notes, and pathology results were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

During the study period, 98 patients were operated and 86 were included. Mean age was 9.7±5.62 years. Non-neoplastic pathologies constitute 68.6 % of cases; 31.4 % was neoplastic. Malignancy rate was 4.6 %. Solid component, absence of ovarian torsion and diameter > 9 cm were more commonly seen in neoplastic cases (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p=0.001). Adnexal torsion was found in 30 (34.9 %) patients. Mean diameter did not differ significantly between groups with or without torsion; incidence of torsion was greater in patients with masses < 6 cm (p=0.019). Ovariansparing surgery was performed in 48 (55.8 %) and oopherectomy in 38 (44.2 %) patients. Surgical approach was affected by nature (p < 0.001) and size (p < 0.001) of the lesion; it was independent of age and presence of torsion.

CONCLUSION

A purely cystic mass < 9 cm, with torsion and negative markers, orients towards a non-neoplastic mass. The presence of solid component and absence of torsion are associated with increased risk of malignancy.