Recurrent fetal complex ovarian cysts with rupture followed by simple cyst in the neonatal period with no adverse sequelae

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(2):328-30. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2014.1000851. Epub 2015 Jan 8.

Abstract

Fetal ovarian cysts are the most frequent type of abdominal tumors in female fetuses with prenatal detection rate of more than 30%. The etiology of fetal ovarian cysts is unclear, but hormonal stimulation as well as presence of maternal diabetes, hypothyroidism, Rh iso-immune hemolytic disease and toxemia has been generally considered responsible for the disease. Complications of fetal ovarian cysts include compression of other viscera, cyst rupture, hemorrhage and, most frequently, ovarian torsion with consequent loss of the ovary. Management is controversial with several options described in the literature, including watchful expectancy, antenatal aspiration of simple cysts to prevent torsion and ovarian loss and finally, resection of all complex cysts in the neonatal period. To date, no case report has described recurrent complex cysts with rupture in the fetal period and recurrence of simple cyst in neonatal period. By presenting this case, we wanted to show that surgical intervention in case of prenatally diagnosed fetal ovarian cyst should be considered postnatally and only in symptomatic or complicated cases.

Keywords: Fetal ovarian cyst; neonatal ovarian cyst; ruptured ovarian cyst.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Cysts / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pregnancy
  • Recurrence
  • Rupture, Spontaneous
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal