Ovarian mature teratoma: a ten year experience in our institution.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To describe the surgical management and diagnoses of mature ovarian teratomas and ovarian strumas in the present centre.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive retrospective analysis of cases of mature ovarian teratoma at the present university-associated hospital over ten years.

RESULTS: The mean age was 29 years and in 17 patients the diagnosis was made during other surgery. When surgery was planned, the approach was 80.2% laparoscopic and 16.1% laparotomic. In the laparoscopy group more cases had been diagnosed previously as dermoid cyst by ultrasound and fewer days of hospital admission. In the laparotomy group the authors found higher ultrasound size and the size in the gross pathology description. With regards to treatment, 45.3% of cases underwent ovariectomy and 49.3% a cystectomy. Comparing these two groups, the authors found larger pelvic mass size in the group of ovariectomies. Healthy ovarian tissue in the removed specimen was found more frequently in the ovariectomies group (29.1%) but also in some cystectomies (7.5%).

CONCLUSIONS: The surgical treatment of the ovarian mature teratoma in the present center was directed on the basis of ultrasound diagnosis, ultrasound tumor size, and the existence of associated gynecologic pathology. The authors strongly recommend a laparoscopic approach and a cystectomy in order to preserve fertility especially in young women.