Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026
Z-Scores for Assessing Ovarian Reserve in Young Patients Undergoing Fertility Preservation
Published on: October 25, 2024
Ovarian-Sparing Surgery in Pediatric Benign Ovarian Tumors
Paulette I Abbas1, Jennifer E Dietrich2, Jessica A Francis2
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Insights
Ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) is a successful treatment for benign ovarian lesions in children, demonstrating low rates of recurrence and repeat procedures. This approach preserves ovarian function, with many patients resuming menses and achieving pregnancies post-surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Ovarian lesions are common in pediatric patients.
- Ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) aims to preserve ovarian function while treating these lesions.
- Evaluating outcomes after OSS is crucial for pediatric gynecologic care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the outcomes of children undergoing ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) for non-neoplastic and benign neoplastic ovarian lesions.
- To determine complication rates, recurrence patterns, and reproductive outcomes following OSS in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study conducted between January 2003 and January 2012 at a high-volume tertiary care hospital.
- Included 109 pediatric patients (≤18 years) undergoing OSS for ovarian lesions.
- Outcomes assessed included postoperative complications, tumor recurrence, and reproductive function.
Main Results:
- The median age of the 109 patients was 13.3 years; 82 underwent laparoscopic procedures.
- Postoperative complications included surgical site infections in 6% of patients.
- Recurrence occurred in 10% of patients, with 5 undergoing repeat surgery; 63% resumed menses, and 3 achieved pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- Ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) is an effective treatment for benign ovarian lesions in children.
- OSS is associated with low rates of recurrence and repeat surgical intervention.
- The procedure supports preservation of ovarian function and reproductive potential in pediatric patients.
Study Objective:
To evaluate outcomes of children after ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) for non-neoplastic and benign neoplastic ovarian lesions.
Design:
Retrospective cohort study from January 2003 to January 2012.
Setting:
Single, high-volume, tertiary care hospital.
Participants:
Children 18 years of age and younger.
Interventions:
None.
Main Outcome Measures:
Postoperative complications and tumor recurrence after OSS.
Results:
One hundred nine patients underwent OSS with a median age of 13.3 years (interquartile range [IQR], 11.4-15.1 years). Eighty-two patients were treated laparoscopically with 4 conversions to an open procedure. Postoperative complications included surgical site infections in 7 patients (6%). Pathology most commonly revealed functional ovarian cysts (n = 57) and mature teratomas (n = 37). Ninety-four patients (86%) were followed for a median of 10.4 months (IQR, 0.72-30.8 months). Fifty-five patients (60%) had subsequent imaging surveillance a median of 7.6 months postoperatively (IQR, 3.9-13 months). Ten patients (10%) developed a second ipsilateral lesion within a median time of 11 months (IQR, 7.7-24 months), of whom 5 girls had repeated surgery for mass enlargement or persistent abdominal pain at a median time of 10.5 months (IQR, 8.0-12.65 months). Fifty-eight patients (63%) began or resumed menses at their most recent follow-up. Three girls became pregnant after OSS at a median follow-up of 5 years (range, 2.4-6.7 years).
Conclusion:
Benign ovarian lesions in children can be treated successfully with OSS with low recurrence and repeat surgery rates.
More Related Videos
11:29Surgical Techniques to Optimize Ovarian Reserve during Laparoscopic Cystectomy for Ovarian Endometrioma
Published on: January 22, 2022
11:53Laparoscopic Oocyte Retrieval and Cryopreservation during Vaginoplasty for Treatment of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome
Published on: May 10, 2022