Isolated torsion of the hydrosalpinx in a postmenopausal woman
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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Surgical Techniques to Optimize Ovarian Reserve during Laparoscopic Cystectomy for Ovarian Endometrioma
Published on: January 22, 2022
Dah-Ching Ding1, Senzan Hsu, Sheng-Po Kao
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC. dah1003@yahoo.com.tw
Objectives:
Isolated torsion of the fallopian tube is an uncommon cause of acute lower abdominal pain. It is often found in reproductive-age women and is found less in prepubertal and perimenopausal women.
Methods:
We describe a 70-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented with lower abdominal pain and discomfort. Ultrasonography revealed a well-defined, echo-free cystic mass measuring 5.3 cm x 5.8 cm without septations. Laparoscopic examination showed a dark-red, round-shaped cystic lesion that twisted at the right infundibulo-pelvic ligament site in the right adnexa area with adhesion to the posterior uterine surface and separation from the atrophic ovary.
Results:
The pathology study of the excised tumor showed hydrosalpinx with torsion. The patient was asymptomatic after the procedure. Torsion of the hydrosalpinx is rare in postmenopausal women. In postmenopausal women presenting with low abdominal pain with an adnexal mass, the gynecologist should contemplate possible torsion of the hydrosalpinx.
Conclusion:
The case was unusual in the postmenopausal age group, making it a rare presentation of a rare entity. Laparoscopy could be a useful tool in diagnosing and treating isolated tubal torsion.
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