Abstract | OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the effect of routine second-trimester and third-trimester ultrasonographic examinations on the prevalence of detectable and operable adnexal disease. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of 7996 pregnant women between 13.0 and 42.8 weeks' gestation. The size and architectural pattern of any detectable adnexal masses were noted. RESULTS: A total of 328 of the 7996 (4.1%) women in the study group had 335 ultrasonographically detectable adnexal masses; 309 of the masses were unilocular or had a single thin septation and 26 were architecturally complex. Of the ovarian cysts 252 of 309 (81.6%) had a mean diameter < 3.0 cm; 60% of the 252 patients in this subgroup had serial ultrasonographic examinations; 43 of the unilocular cysts resolved, and 17 have persisted for up to 2 years. There is a statistically significant trend toward decreasing frequency of ovarian cysts with increasing gestational age (chi2 for linear trend; P < .00001). Eighteen of the 7996 had an exploratory laparotomy (1 operation per 444 deliveries) during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. In addition, 1 patient had a paratubal cyst excised at the time of postpartum bilateral tubal ligation. Pathologically confirmed lesions included 8 benign cystic teratomas, 3 mucinous cyst adenomas, 2 paratubal cysts, 2 corpus lutea, 1 serous cystadenoma, 1 follicular cyst, 1 endometrioma, and 1 ovarian fibroma. CONCLUSION:
Ovarian cysts are found in 4.1% of second-trimester and third-trimester obstetric ultrasonographic examinations. Most ultrasonographically detectable cysts are < 3.0 cm in diameter and usually resolve. The frequency of exploratory laparotomy for adnexal disease is not significantly different from that in reports before the widespread use of obstetric ultrasonography.
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Authors | L M Hill, D J Connors-Beatty, A Nowak, B Tush |
Journal | American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
(Am J Obstet Gynecol)
Vol. 179
Issue 3 Pt 1
Pg. 703-7
(Sep 1998)
ISSN: 0002-9378 [Print] United States |
PMID | 9757975
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Adnexa Uteri
(diagnostic imaging, surgery)
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Cysts
(diagnostic imaging, surgery)
- Female
- Genital Diseases, Female
(diagnostic imaging, surgery)
- Genital Neoplasms, Female
(diagnostic imaging, surgery)
- Humans
- Ovarian Cysts
(diagnostic imaging, surgery)
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications
(diagnostic imaging, surgery)
- Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic
(diagnostic imaging, surgery)
- Pregnancy Trimester, Second
- Pregnancy Trimester, Third
- Ultrasonography
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