Clinical analysis of 52 adolescent patients with ovarian masses ≥10 cm in diameter

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of large ovarian masses in adolescents. METHODS: Adolescents with large ovarian masses (≥10 cm in diameter) who were treated in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from March 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: Fifty-two female patients (mean age: 16.17±2.04 years [11–19 years]) were included and 19 (36.5%) presented with abdominal pain. The blood flow signal rate in ultrasonography was significantly different among benign, borderline and malignant ovarian masses, unlike strong echo, dotted echo and septation rates. Carbohydrate antigen 125 positivity rates were significantly different among pathological types and the endometriotic cyst group showed the highest value (75.0%). Alpha-fetoprotein positivity rates were also different among pathological types. For ovarian cystectomy, 14 and 32 patients underwent laparotomy and laparoscopy, respectively. Mass diameters were significantly higher in the laparotomy group and the operative duration was significantly shorter in the laparoscopy group. There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss or postoperative recurrence rates between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Teratomas constitute the greatest group of large ovarian masses in adolescents. Benign tumors should be treated by laparoscopic resection, while borderline or malignant tumors require individualized treatment of tumors and fertility-sparing treatments.