Antenatal Surgical Management for Ovarian Cysts: 13 Years’ Experience Abstract
Suet-Ying YEUNG, Jacqueline Ho-Sze LEE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Objective: To evaluate the outcome of surgically treated ovarian cysts during the antenatal period in 51 women.
Methods: The outcome of pregnant women who underwent surgery during the antenatal period for ovarian cyst
from January 2003 to December 2015 at a university hospital in Hong Kong was retrospectively reviewed. Operative
details, histopathology of the ovarian cyst, pregnancy complications, and neonatal outcome were assessed.
Results: Of 51 women surgically treated for ovarian cyst during pregnancy, 29 were operated electively in the late first or early second trimester (mean [range] gestational age, 14 [8-22] weeks) and 22 were emergency operations
(mean [range] gestational age, 13 [4-32] weeks). There were no intra-operative complications or adverse neonatal
outcome. The most common pathology was mature cystic teratoma (22/54, 40.7%). Most ovarian cyst complications
occurred between 7 and 13 weeks of gestation (72.7%) and when the size of the cyst was >6 cm (81.8%).
Conclusion: Elective surgery for ovarian cyst in the late first or second trimester can be achieved safely with a
laparoscopic approach. Ovarian cysts >6 cm are at risk of complications and warrant elective surgery. Accurate
diagnosis of ovarian cyst complications during pregnancy can be made clinically based on symptoms and
ultrasonographic findings.
Hong Kong J Gynaecol Obstet Midwifery 2017; 17(1):18–23