Racial Disparities in Pediatric Ovarian Mass Management

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Social determinants of health, including race and ethnicity, influence pediatric surgical care access and outcomes.
• Limited research exists on how patient race affects surgical interventions for ovarian masses in pediatric females.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of patient race on surgical intervention for ovarian masses in pediatric females.
• To identify potential racial disparities in surgical management and outcomes for this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective single-institution review (2009-2021) of pediatric females (≤18 years) undergoing surgery for ovarian masses.
• Data collected included socio-demographics, race, preoperative assessments, surgical type, and pathology.
• Fisher's exact test analyzed differences in clinical findings across race groups.

Main Results:

• 409 cases included: 48% White, 41% Black, 11% Other race.
• No significant difference in malignancy rates by race (p=0.862).
• Black patients were significantly more likely to undergo oophorectomy than White patients (p=0.009).

Conclusions:

• Black females with ovarian masses had a higher likelihood of oophorectomy compared to White females, irrespective of malignancy.
• This disparity indicates potential racial bias in surgical decision-making.
• Preoperative risk stratification algorithms may help mitigate biases, warranting further investigation.