Appendectomy in the surgical treatment of benign ovarian mucinous cystadenomas - is it necessary?

OBJECTIVES: To determine if appendectomy as an adjunctive procedure is necessary in the surgical treatment of benign ovarian mucinous cystadenomas.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical data: in a research hospital, obstetrics and gynecology depart-ment setting, 63 cases of benign ovarian mucinous cystadenomas confirmed in the pathological evaluation were revised. 59 had the complete clinical, final pathological and follow-up data available and were included.

RESULTS: 20.6% (13/59) went through an appendectomy. Basic characteristics of patients with different appendiceal pathologies did not show any significant differences. In the study group the mean age, parity, adnexial mass size were (40.1 ± 12.4); (1.3 ± 1.1) and (9.1 ± 5.3 cm), respectively. Patients were either operated laparoscopically (20), laparotomically (39) to perform a unilateral salpingoopherectomy/cystectomy. In 7 patients, oopherectomy was an additional procedure with: 2 abdominal hysterectomies, 4 cesarean sections and 1 total laparoscopic hysterectomy. 2 synchronous appendiceal pathologies (mucinous cystadenomas of the appendix) were defined in appendectomies performed. In these cases, the ovarian tumour sizes were: 7 cm and 4 cm.

CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of a benign or borderline unilateral ovarian mucinous tumour as defined during the operation and especially if it is larger than 10-12 cm and with normal peritoneal and appendiceal gross morphology, appendectomy is not a necessary adjunctive procedure.