Adnexal masses encountered during cesarean delivery

Objective

To outline and discuss the clinical features and outcomes of adnexal masses that were treated during cesarean delivery at a tertiary referral hospital located in Ankara, Turkey.

Methods

The operating room and pathology department databases for 2007–2012 were retrospectively reviewed for surgically managed adnexal masses during cesarean delivery. Clinicopathologic characteristics and maternal and neonatal outcomes were assessed.

Results

Adnexal masses occurred in 151 women (0.3% of all cesarean deliveries). Most (54.9%) masses were incidentally discovered during cesarean delivery. The mean mass size was 5.3 ± 3.7 cm (range, 3–30 cm). The majority (96.7%) of the women underwent excision of the mass and ovarian repair. Most masses were benign, with dermoid cysts constituting the most common diagnosis (23.8%). Rare tumors such as thecoma, hyperreactio luteinalis, hemangioma, and benign Brenner tumor were also encountered. Three (2.0%) women were postoperatively diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Preterm delivery and neonatal intensive care unit admission rates were 15.9% and 11.9%, respectively. There were no serious neonatal morbidities and no neonatal mortality.

Conclusion

Adnexal masses encountered during cesarean delivery generally have a favorable prognosis in terms of maternal and fetal outcome.