Ovarian tumours in pregnancy

Ovarian tumours associated with pregnancy were reviewed for the period 1982-1991. The overall incidence of this complication was 1:653 deliveries; 62.7% of the tumours were diagnosed in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. The value of routine pelvic examination and ultrasonic scan as a diagnostic aid in early pregnancy is emphasized; 25.4% of patients presented as an acute emergency; 23.9% of the tumours were incidentally discovered at Caesarean section which underlines the importance of examining the ovaries at operation. Benign cystic teratomas were the most common ovarian tumours found, followed by serous cystadenomas. The incidence of malignant tumours was 4.5%. Whenever an ovarian tumour is found, the possibility of malignancy should always be borne in mind. Treatment of ovarian tumours in pregnancy should be tailored according to the age of the patient, parity, clinical presentation, gestational age and biology of the tumour.