Related Experiment Videos
Adnexal masses in pregnancy: surgery compared with observation
Kathleen M Schmeler1, William W Mayo-Smith, Jeffrey F Peipert
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women & Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, Brown University Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. KSchmele@mdanderson.org
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|May 3, 2005
Summary
Delaying surgery for pregnant patients with adnexal masses may be safe. Close observation is a viable option for select cases, avoiding adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Adnexal masses are occasionally diagnosed during pregnancy.
- Management decisions involve balancing risks of surgery against potential complications of the mass.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if delaying surgery for pregnant patients with adnexal masses impacts maternal and fetal outcomes.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of conservative management versus antepartum surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pregnant patients diagnosed with adnexal masses ≥5 cm.
- Data included patient demographics, mass characteristics, surgical timing, and pathology.
- Pregnancy outcomes and complications were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 63 pregnant patients had adnexal masses ≥5 cm; 17 underwent antepartum surgery.
- Surgery was primarily indicated for suspected malignancy or ovarian torsion.
- Malignancies were rare (6.8% of masses); observation was common for benign masses.
Conclusions:
- Close observation is a reasonable alternative to antepartum surgery for select patients with adnexal masses during pregnancy.
- Management should be individualized based on mass characteristics and clinical presentation.