Adnexal Masses and Pregnancy: A 10-Year Experience

Background and objectives: the diagnosis of pregnancy associated adnexal masses is risingdue to routine utilization of sonography in prenatal care. the purpose of this study was to describepregnancy associated adnexal masses over a period of 10 years.patients and methods: a retrospective study was reviewed hospital records of all pregnant womenwith adnexal mass that underwent surgical resection in mirza kuchak khan hospital in tehranfrom january 1996 to march 2006. the collected data included maternal age, parity, gestational ageat diagnosis, surgery and delivery, presenting symptoms and treatment. the pregnancy outcomecomplications and histological findings were reviewed.results: totally 29220 deliveries were performed in our institution; adnexal masses were detectedin 0.01% of pregnancies. antepartum surgery was performed in 4 (10.3%) patients. the meangestational age at delivery in patients undergoing surgery during pregnancy was 36 weeks (ranged3637- weeks) while in patients with cystectomy during cesarean delivery was 38 weeks (range: 33-40) (p=0.04). there were no statistically significant differences in birth weight between the patientsundergoing surgery during pregnancy and those with surgery at cesarean delivery (p=0.176). themean cyst diameter was 11 cm (range 416- cm) for patients operated during pregnancy while itwas 4 cm (2.512- cm) for those undergoing surgery during cesarean delivery (p=0.006). the mostcommon diagnosis was benign serous cyst (23.1%) followed by benign dermoid cyst (20.5%).conclusion: patients undergoing laparotomy for adnexal mass during pregnancy had higherrisk of preterm labor but there were no difference in birth weight.