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Follow-up sonography without surgery viable for patients with ovarian cysts
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Patients with septated cystic ovarian tumors without solid areas or papillary projections were at low risk for malignancy, suggesting their tumors may be followed by sonography without surgery, according to data presented by Brook Saunders, MD, clinical instructor of gynecologic oncology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, at The Society for Gynecologic Oncologists’ 2010 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer.
To determine the risk for malignancy in sonographically confirmed complex cystic ovarian tumors with septal morphology, researchers reviewed sonograms from 29,829 women. Among these patients, 1,319 (4.4%) had 2,870 complex cystic ovarian tumors with septations but without solid areas or papillary projections. The mean age of patients was 56.9 years; 71% were postmenopausal.
During follow-up, there were 2,870 septated cystic ovarian tumors. Septal width was < 2 mm in 79.7% of the tumors and ≥ 2 mm in 20.3%. Diameter was < 5 cm in 79.6% of tumors and ≥ 5 cm in 20.4%.
Overall, 38.8% of the tumors resolved spontaneously and 61.2% persisted. Within three months of ultrasound, 128 patients had their tumors surgically removed. Seventy-five patients had serous cystadenoma, 13 had mucinous cystadenoma and 10 had endometrioma. No cases of ovarian cancer were noted.
“The risk for malignancy in complex ovarian tumors with septations but without solid areas or papillary projections is extremely low, and patients with these tumors can be followed sonographically without surgery,” Saunders said during the presentation.
For more information:
- Saunders B. #53. Presented at: The Society for Gynecologic Oncologists’ 2010 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer; March 14-17, 2010; San Francisco.