An Unusual Size of Neonatal Ovarian Cyst

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

1 Department of Neonatology, Al-Zahra Hospital, Gilan University of Medical Sciences, Gilan, Iran

2 Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, 17th Shahrivar Hospital, School of Medicine, Gilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

3 Pediatric Growth Disorders Research Center, 17th Shahrivar Hospital, School of Medicine, Gilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

Neonatal ovarian cysts (NOC) are usually self-limiting structures, however, large or complex cysts may lead to severe complications. Unfortunately, no standard guidelines have been introduced for the management, treatment and follow-up of these cysts. In this report, we aimed to introduce a very large NOC without any pre- and post-natal complications. A 30 year-old mother, gravida 2, para 2, with an unremarkable prenatal course until the 36th week of gestation, delivered an infant. The routine fetal ultrasound revealed a 140x 60 mm echogenic cyst, with debris in the lower fetal abdomen (it may be due to hemorrhage). A healthy female infant, weighing 3,200 gr was born through vaginal delivery at 38 weeks’ gestation. On the first day after birth, the laboratory results showed normal serum concentrations of hormones.  Repeated sonography after birth showed a neonatal ovarian cyst which had remained unchanged in size; therefore, clinicians performed an early surgery.

Keywords

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Introduction

Ovarian cysts, usually unilateral, are the most frequently encountered abdominal tumors in female fetuses and newborns (1). Recently, due to the accessibilty of ultrasound and great advances in radiographic modalities and techniques, neonatal ovarian cysts (NOC) can be easily detected during the prenatal period (2).

The incidence of ovarian cysts has been estimated to be approximately 30% (3). Generally, the term "pathological cyst" in newborns refers to a cyst more than 2 cm in diameter (4). Considering the ultrasonographic features, cysts are classified as “simple” and “complex”; with regard to their size, they are categorized as “small” and “large” cysts (5).

Simple cysts have a primary functional structure and are also named as “follicular cysts” (6, 7). A complex cyst is a thick-walled septated cyst, which contains blood clots or debris (8). Small cysts are usually asymptomatic and show spontaneous regression within a few months after birth; these cysts are rarely complicated, depending on their size and pedicle length (9).

In this report, we aimed to introduce a very large neonatal ovarian cyst without pre- and post-natal complications such as torsion, fetal anemia and hormonal defect.

Case presentation

A 30 year-old mother, gravida 2, para 2, with an unremarkable prenatal course until 36 weeks’ gestation gave birth to an infant. The routine fetal ultrasound revealed a 140 x60 mm echogenic cyst, with debris in the lower fetal abdomen (may be due to hemorrhage) (Figure 1). Since repeated sonography at birth showed a neonatal ovarian cyst with an unchanged size, clinicians performed an early surgery.

 

Results

A healthy female infant, weighing 3,200 gr was born through vaginal delivery at 38 weeks’ gestation. On the first day after the neonate’s birth, the laboratory results showed normal serum concentrations of estradiol (E2=8 pg/ml; normal range=0-10 pg/ml) , progesterone (P4=26 ng/ml; normal range=0–32.5 ng/ml), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH=3.5 mIU/ml; normal range=0.2–11 mIU/ml), and luteinizing hormone (LH=0.3 mIU/ml; normal range=0.1–0.5 mIU/ml).

Physical examination of the neonate was unremarkable. Also, transabdominal ultrasound revealed the same echogenic cyst with the same size.


 

Figure 1.

 


Discussion

In the present report, the cyst was diagnosed at 36 weeks’ gestation and  was predominantly in the right ovary; this case is inconsistent with the results mentioned by Akın MA et al In their study, they mentioned a cyst with the mean size of 53±15 mm, which mostly disappeared in the right ovary (10).

According to the literature, NOC may occur as a result of  fetal exposure to maternal and fetal gonadotropins and can often be found in newborns whose mothers have increased level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (as in diabetes, Rh isoimmunization and toxemia) (11). However, in the present case, the mother did not have  pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, polyhydramnios or Rh-immunization which was consistent with the results mentioned by L. K. Læssøe et al (12).

Indications for NOC surgical intervention and choosing the best clinical approach are quite controversial. Mizuno M et al revealed that small simple ovarian cysts < 4 cm in diameter could be observed carefully with serial ultrasonography. Furthermore, they mentioned that all complex and simple ovarian cysts >5 cm in diameter, along with smaller cysts (which do not reduce in size), should be considered as indications for surgical treatment to rescue the ovarian tissue (13).  Læssøe L et al showed that when fetal ovarian cysts are prenatally suspected, they should be followed up by serial ultrasonographic examinations, since the majority of them spontaneously regressed within the first year (12); however, symptomatic cysts and persistent/enlarged cysts should be surgically removed.  In our case, we did not perform follow-ups for the patient, since there was a risk of ovarian torsion; therefore we chose surgery as the first step of treatment.

References

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