title: Neonatal ovarian cysts: management and follow-up.
abstract: Twenty-seven neonatal ovarian cysts were diagnosed in utero during a 13-year period; 9 were complicated and 18 were initially simple, but 8/18 showed evidence of complications in utero or soon after birth, leaving only 10 simple cysts. One simple and 4 complicated cysts were surgically excised early in the study period; 2 simple cysts were treated by needle aspiration at birth because of their large size. The remaining 20 cases were initially managed conservatively. All simple cysts and 10/13 complicated cysts regressed completely within 12 months; 3 that failed to regress were surgically excised. Nineteen patients who did not undergo a laparotomy had ultrasonographic (US) examinations from 3 months to 9 years after birth. Echography showed both ovaries in all 9 girls who had simple cysts at birth and in 2 of the 10 with complications. In the other 8 complicated cases only one ovary was detected at follow-up. Pre- or post-natal aspiration of simple cysts 4 cm or more in diameter is recommended, while conservative management seems appropriate in the absence of symptoms for simple cysts of less than 4 cm and complicated cysts of any size tending to involute after birth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Via Giustiniani 3, Padova 35128, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luzzatto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Midrio
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toffolutti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Suma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007813:Laparotomy; D008423:Maternal Age; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal