Detection and management of pathological, non-palpable, cystic adnexal masses

Ten patients with normal bimanual pelvic examinations were found to have small, non-palpable adnexal cysts by transvaginal ultrasound examination. After failing to respond to a course of observation and suppressive therapy with combination oral contraceptives, surgical evaluation was performed. In each case, histological examination returned a pathological diagnosis (endometrioma, serous cystadenoma, mature cystic teratoma, inflammatory cyst). This series suggests that transvaginal ultrasonography may be used to detect adnexal pathology before it is clinically apparent. A scheme for management of this clinical entity is proposed.