Minimally invasive management of the prenatally torsed ovarian cyst.
BACKGROUND
Fetal and neonatal ovarian cysts are detected frequently by ultrasonography. The presence of these lesions can result in adnexal torsion in utero with autoamputation. Historically, these have been removed at laparotomy.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review was performed at a single children's hospital from October 1996 to September 2001.


RESULTS
Six cases of torsion of ovarian cysts were removed laparoscopically. Five of the 6 patients had prenatal ultrasound diagnosis. The sixth had the cyst detected incidentally by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 months of age. All cysts were complex by ultrasound criteria. All 6 procedures were performed via a 2-port laparoscopic approach. The average age at surgery was 3.7 months (range, 9 days to 7.5 months). There were no postoperative complications. Five patients were discharged on the day of surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopy offers a safe, effective, and cosmetic means of managing perinatal torsion of ovarian cysts.
Tseng
Daniel
D
Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital, Portland, OR, USA.
Curran
Thomas J
TJ
Silen
Mark L
ML
D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal