Dermoid cysts causing adnexal torsion: What are the risk factors?

Dermoid cysts (benign mature cystic teratoma) are a relatively common cause of adnexal torsion. We aimed to identify the clinical and surgical characteristics associated with adnexal torsion involving dermoid cysts.

Retrospective review of all cases of ovarian dermoid cysts (as diagnosed by pathology evaluation) operated in our department between 2008-2019. We collected information on demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and surgical findings and compared those parameters among women with and without adnexal torsion.

The study cohort included 231 patients who were operated for ovarian dermoid cysts. Of these, the surgery was performed urgently for suspected adnexal torsion in 77 (33.3%) cases, while adnexal torsion was surgically diagnosed in 51 (22.1%) cases. Diagnosis of torsion was significantly associated with younger mean age (28.8 ± 14.4 years in torsion cases versus 34.5 ± 14.8 years in non-torsion cases, p = 0.01), but not with the mean cyst diameter (81.9 ± 26.3 mm in the torsion group versus 74.7 ± 35.9 mm in the non-torsion group, p = 0.1). Regarding cyst size, torsion was found in women with cyst diameter ≤ 55 mm (9 cases, 17.7% of torsion cases), 60-90 mm (30 cases, 58.8%), and ≥ 100 mm (12 cases, 23.5%) (p = 0.1 for comparison between all groups and p = 0.05 for comparison between the small diameter group versus the intermediate/large diameter groups). Although abdominal pain was reported in most women with and without torsion, patients with adnexal torsion were significantly more likely to present with nausea and/or vomiting (24 cases [47.1%], versus 14 cases [7.8%], respectively, p < 0.001).

Torsion of dermoid cysts is associated with younger age, but not with the mean cyst's diameter. Surgical removal of dermoid cysts should be considered in pre-menarchal girls, adolescents and young women to prevent adnexal torsion.