The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical aspects of laparoscopic management of adnexal masses. The feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated, but the safe and effective use of laparoscopy for this indication requires training, technical skills and experience on the part of the laparoscopist. If used appropriately, many patients will benefit from minimally-invasive surgery. We compared clinical factors of patients having laparoscopy to those having laparotomy in a case-control study of 30 patients with adnexal masses. Oophorectomy or ovarian cystectomy was performed by laparoscopy for 20 women and by laparotomy for 10 women. Comparing the 2 groups, the most significant difference was the decrease in length of hospital stay in the laparoscopy group. There were no significant differences in operative time or intraoperative complications. Estimated blood loss was lower in the laparoscopy group, and no intraoperative complications occurred. No patient required conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy. All patients had benign disease despite the inclusion of patients with risk factors for ovarian carcinoma. This study clearly demonstrates the clinical benefits of laparoscopic management of adnexal masses treated with oophorectomy or ovarian cystectomy.