Ovarian leiomyoma as a potential cause of compromised fertility.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze cases of ovarian leiomyomas and to discuss the proper surgical management.


METHODS
A case series and discussion.


METHODS
General university hospital and healthcare center.


METHODS
Nine patients who were diagnosed with ovarian leiomyomas after surgery between 1993 and 2009.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
A preoperative diagnosis that was matched to the postoperative diagnosis and the type of surgery.


RESULTS
In all cases, ovarian leiomyoma was misdiagnosed preoperatively as pedunculated uterine myoma, ovarian fibroma, or even ovarian endometrioma. Seven (77.8%) of the nine patients underwent a salpingo-oophorectomy or an oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy, and only two (22.2%) patients were submitted to an ovary-preserving surgery (i.e., a cystectomy or ovarian wedge resection).


CONCLUSIONS
Because of their extreme rarity, ovarian leiomyomas are seldom suspected intraoperatively or preoperatively. However, most of these tumors appear at reproductive age and have a benign nature, similar to uterine myomas. Therefore, surgeons should perform ovary-preserving management, especially in young patients.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Yu-Jin
YJ
Koo
Yeon-Jean
YJ
Cho
Ji-Young
JY
Kim
Ji-Eun
JE
Lee
Mi-La
ML
Kim
Joo-Myung
JM
Kim
Ho-Won
HW
Han
Kwan-Young
KY
Joo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D055815:Young Adult