Short-term morbidity and long-term recurrence rate of ovarian dermoid cysts treated by laparoscopy versus laparotomy

To compare the short-term morbidity and the long-term recurrence rate of ovarian dermoid cysts in women treated conservatively by laparoscopy with the outcomes in women treated by laparotomy.

This retrospective multicentre cohort study compared the outcomes of removal of dermoid cysts by laparoscopy with removal by laparotomy. All specimens were confirmed histologically as dermoid cysts. We reviewed all medical records and identified all surgical interventions for dermoid cysts over a 10-year period (1993-2003) in two academic centres in Quebec City. Of the 299 women treated for ovarian dermoid cysts, 167 were treated by laparotomy and 132 were treated by laparoscopy. To compare short-term morbidity, we excluded those who had undergone ophorectomy or any concomitant surgery, and we consequently reviewed the records of 98 patients in the laparotomy group and 100 patients in the laparoscopy group. To compare long-term recurrence rates we excluded only those patients who had had oophorectomy. In total, 245 women with available follow-up were identified as having ovarian cystectomy (95 in the laparoscopy group and 150 in the laparotomy group). Two-tailed Fisher exact test was used for analysis of categorical variables, and Student t test or Wilcoxon rank test were used for analysis of continuous variables comparing the two groups. Life table analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method was performed to assess the risk of long-term recurrence.

The mean diameter of the cyst in women who had a laparotomy was significantly larger than in women who had laparoscopy (8.27 cm vs. 5.94 cm), and significantly more women in the laparotomy group had bilateral cysts (16% vs. 5% in the laparoscopy group). In women who had laparoscopy, operating time was greater (P = 0.0363), but blood loss was less (P < 0.0001) and duration of hospital stay (P < 0.0001) was shorter. Spillage of the cyst's contents occurred in 18% of cases in the laparoscopy group and in 1% in the laparotomy group. Conversions of laparoscopy to laparotomy occurred in 11% of cases, mainly because of cyst size. Postoperative complication rates were similar in the two groups. Reintervention rate was 4.2% in the laparoscopy group and 0% in the laparotomy group (P = 0.0217). Using life table analysis, the probability of recurrence at two years was 7.6% (95% confidence intervals 2.9, 19.2) in the laparoscopy group and 0% in the laparotomy group.

Ovarian cystectomy performed by laparoscopy is associated with a higher incidence of intra-abdominal spillage than laparotomy, but this not associated with any increase in morbidity. Laparoscopic treatment results in a shorter hospital stay and less intraoperative blood loss than laparotomy, but it is associated with a significantly higher risk of recurrence.