Elective vs. conservative management of ovarian tumors in pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine optimal management of the ovarian tumors in pregnancy.


METHODS
This study included 89 cases of the ovarian tumor in pregnancy that required surgery at Holy Family hospital of the Catholic University from January, 1990 to December, 2001. Among 89 cases, 36 and 53 were emergency and elective surgery, respectively. Student's t-test and the chi(2)-test were used for statistical analysis and a P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
The most common size of torsion of ovarian tumors during pregnancy was 6-10 cm and the incidence was the most frequent during the first trimester of pregnancy. The incidence of preterm delivery (<37 weeks) was higher in emergency surgery, but there was no difference in the gestational age at delivery, also no difference in the birth weight or the method of delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
Although surgery for ovarian tumors in pregnancy is delayed until the onset of symptoms, adverse pregnancy outcome is not worsened when compared with that after elective surgery. We propose that conservative management would be used in optimal management of pregnant women with ovarian tumors.
Lee
G S R
GS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Holy Family Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
Hur
S Y
SY
Shin
J C
JC
Kim
S P
SP
Kim
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000601:surgery*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D016896:Treatment Outcome