Aim: To investigate the natural history of fetal ovarian cysts and elucidate the risk factors for postnatal adverse outcomes in fetal ovarian cysts.
Methods: The study subjects were 18 cases with ovarian cysts prenatally diagnosed using ultrasonography at our hospital between 2007 and 2020. The subjects were classified by cyst characteristics according to echogenic patterns [simple cyst (S) and complex cyst (C)], changes in echogenic patterns (S-to-S, S-to-C, and C-to-C), and diameters (<40 and ≥ 40 mm). Clinical parameters and outcomes were compared between S and C patterns, S-to-S and S-to-C patterns, and <40 and ≥ 40 mm diameters.
Results: Cases with S and C patterns (15 and 3, respectively) had median gestational ages of 35 and 36 weeks, respectively, and maximum cyst diameters of 36 and 57mm, respectively. The number of cases with S-to-S, S-to-C and C-to-C patterns were 11, 4 and 3, respectively. The maximum cyst diameter in cases with S-to-C patterns (58 mm) was larger than that in cases with S-to-S patterns (34 mm) (P<0.05). Placental weight in cases with cysts >40 mm and/or cyst expansion was greater than that in cases with neither or both conditions (P<0.05). Spontaneous resolution (before and after birth) occurred in 8 of 9 and 3 of 9 cases with maximum cyst diameters <40 and ≥ 40 mm, respectively. Ovarian function was lost in 2 cases with S-to-C patterns and in 2 cases with C-to-C patterns.
Conclusion: Cases with cyst diameters ≥ 40 mm and/or cyst expansion during the late third trimester had greater placental weight and more postnatal adverse outcomes.
Keywords: fetus; ovarian cyst; placenta; prognosis; ultrasonography.