Clinical and pathologic evaluation of 342 benign ovarian tumors.

A series of 289 patients who were diagnosed with 342 benign ovarian tumors (BOT) at laparotomy have been reviewed. Mean age was 36.7 years (S.D. +/- 13.9), mean parity was 1.5 (S.D. +/- 1.6); 236 (81.7%) patients had a single unilateral ovarian tumor; 29 (10%) patients had bilateral ovarian tumors. Benign cyst teratoma was diagnosed in 89 (26%) tumors, and it was the most frequent histological type. In eight patients (2.8%) the post-operative pathologic report was compatible with malignancy, despite the lack of suspicion at laparotomy. Mean maximal diameter of BOT was 9.1 cm, and almost 60% of the mucinous cystoadenomas were larger than 16 cm. Benign cyst teratoma and serous cytoadenoma had a medium size, about 6-10 cm. Lower abdominal-pelvic pain was the symptom most frequently reported by patients with BOT. Calcifications were most frequently seen in benign cyst teratoma. Tumors of 11-15 cm in size were the tumors most frequently torsioned. Twenty four (8.3%) patients had their surgical operation done during pregnancy; benign cyst teratoma was the tumor most frequently associated with pregnancy.