An obese 31-year-old nulliparous woman was admitted to the general emergency service with back pain that had started one week earlier and gradually become constant and increased in intensity. She was also vomiting but denied fever, dysuria, constipation, diarrhoea or anorexia. She had never been pregnant and had had amenorrhea for the past 7 years, due to polycystic ovary syndrome. Her body mass index was 39 kg/m2 (height 168 cm; weight 110 kg); she was taking no medication and had no other surgical or medical history to disclose.\nDuring her physical exam, her vital signs were normal and abdominal examination revealed only tenderness in right quadrants, without guarding or rebound. Blood tests were performed and revealed a high white blood cell count (16,700 per mm3, 72% neutrophils), normal renal function and were negative for C-reactive protein. Urine analysis and pregnancy test were also negative.\nBecause her pain worsened, despite the administration of analgesic drugs, the patient underwent an abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan, which showed a huge central abdominal-pelvic cyst arising from the right adnexa (). The cyst measured 25 cm × 20 cm × 14 cm and there was an adjacent enlarged oedematous ovary, highly suggestive of torsion. The left ovary, uterus and the appendix were normal and no free fluid in the abdomen and pelvis was observed.\nShe was then referred to the gynaecology department. Her gynaecologic exam was apparently normal but limited due to obesity. A pelvic ultrasound revealed a 20 cm × 20 cm thin-walled mass of the right adnexa, not clearly separate from it. Doppler examination showed that the right ovary was visible and had a polycystic ovarian morphology and apparent presence of vascular flow. The left ovary had the same polycystic pattern.\nHer pain became acutely worse, which reinforced the hypothesis of adnexal torsion. Based on these findings and the increased pain, we decided to perform exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperatively, a giant (~25 cm) cystic median mass of apparent right adnexal origin was seen, occupying the entire pelvis up to the diaphragm. The cyst wall was intact, adhesion-free and swollen. Necrotic ovarian tissue was identified within the mass, but no cleavage planes were identified. The pedicle, which included the infundibulopelvic and utero-ovarian ligaments, was twisted twice around its stalk (). The left adnexa and the uterus looked normal.\nThe patient underwent resection of the mass without rupture. Frozen-section analysis was not available since the surgery was performed during the night. The final pathology report noted a paratubal serous papillary cystadenoma, an ovary with polycystic morphology and a normal fallopian tube. All fragments had congestion, oedema and haemorrhage, consistent with obstruction of the arteriovenous flow (torsion). The postoperative course was uneventful.
A 31-year-old woman presented with abdominal distention and discomfort worsening over the past 6 months. Concurrently, she had development overactive bladder symptoms, bloating, and dyspepsia. Her medical history was pertinent for epilepsy controlled with antiepileptic medications. Urine analysis was negative for any signs of infection, and her pregnancy test was negative. Abdominal examination was positive for a firm and distended abdomen, uniformly enlarged from the xiphoid bone to the pubic symphysis. No tenderness was reported on palpation; however, pressure was endorsed. A bedside abdominal ultrasound was performed that revealed an abdomen fully distended with fluid, initially suspected to be ascites. Computed tomography in 2.5 mm helical slices with both IV and oral contrast suggested the presence of an encapsulated cystic mass containing clear fluid (6 Hounsfield units). Dimensions reported were 36 cm in long axis, 28 cm in transverse diameter, and 15 cm in anteroposterior diameter, corresponding to 7 liters in volume, suggestive of a right ovarian cystadenoma (Figures and ). No capsular irregularities were seen or intracystic vegetations identified. Concurrently noted was right renal pelvicalyceal dilatation resulting from compression due to the proximity of the right ureter with the renal pelvis measuring 2 cm in anteroposterior diameter. No abdominal ascites or other abdominopelvic abnormalities noted. Tumor markers were in the normal ranges (CA125: 12.13 U/ml, CEA:1.51 ng/ml, and AFP: 1.46 IU/ml). While understanding her risks, the patient stressed the avoidance of excision of ovarian or fallopian tissue due to fertility concerns and preferred that the cyst be removed in a cosmetic manner including avoidance of larger laparotomy incisions.\nThe patient underwent resection of the mass. The procedure was begun by drainage of the cyst in order to identify the stalk and excise all cyst walls. A 3 cm supraumbilical incision was performed with careful dissection until reaching the peritoneal cavity. An Alexis O™ wound protector/retractor Applied Medical was introduced through the small incision permitting better visualization of the cyst (). Three hemostats were used to hold the cyst wall in place, followed by meticulous introduction of an 11 mm trocar into the cyst cavity under direct vision. This was followed by insertion of a 5 mm suction tube through the trocar to aspirate the fluid contents while avoiding spillage of fluid into the peritoneal cavity. Eight liters of serous fluid were aspirated. Following fluid evacuation, the cyst wall had collapsed. The trocar site in the cyst wall was sutured shut in a purse-string manner followed by a second closure layer. Then, the cyst was released off the hemostats, and the laparoscopic gel cap was fitted onto the Alexis retractor to convert the abdominal incision into a laparoscopic port site. This was used to insufflate the abdomen with CO2. Thereafter, 2 additional 5 mm trocars on each side of the midline were introduced.\nThe cyst borders were identified (). Using the bipolar forceps and scissors, it was completely dissected off the fallopian tube. Both the fallopian tube and ovarian tissues were noted to be intact. The cyst was removed through the supraumbilical incision and sent to pathology. The trocars were removed and all incisions approximated as per protocol. The patient was discharged soon thereafter from the observation unit.