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The natural history of adnexal cysts incidentally detected at transvaginal ultrasound examination in postmenopausal women

Valentin, Lil LU orcid and Akrawi, D LU (2002) In Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology 20(2). p.174-180
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the natural history of adnexal cysts incidentally detected at transvaginal ultrasound examination and judged to be benign in postmenopausal women.

METHODS: One hundred and thirty-four postmenopausal women referred for ultrasound examination and found to have an adnexal cyst judged to be benign and not causing any symptoms were followed with transvaginal ultrasound at 3, 6 and 12 months, and then every 12 months. The referring physician treated the patient at his/her own discretion.

RESULTS: One hundred and sixty cysts were found, 121 (76%) being unilocular and 39 more complicated. Seventy-two cysts (45%) had a largest diameter of 3-19 mm and 88 (55%) had a largest diameter of 20-80 mm. Median... (More)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the natural history of adnexal cysts incidentally detected at transvaginal ultrasound examination and judged to be benign in postmenopausal women.

METHODS: One hundred and thirty-four postmenopausal women referred for ultrasound examination and found to have an adnexal cyst judged to be benign and not causing any symptoms were followed with transvaginal ultrasound at 3, 6 and 12 months, and then every 12 months. The referring physician treated the patient at his/her own discretion.

RESULTS: One hundred and sixty cysts were found, 121 (76%) being unilocular and 39 more complicated. Seventy-two cysts (45%) had a largest diameter of 3-19 mm and 88 (55%) had a largest diameter of 20-80 mm. Median follow-up time was 3 (range, 0.3-8) years. In twelve women (9%) the cysts were removed during follow-up, all their cysts (n = 14) being benign. The indication to operate was a change in cyst morphology or increased cyst size in five (4%) women. In 39 (29%) women, the cysts disappeared; in 18 (13%), new cysts developed; and, in 65 (49%), the number of cysts and their location remained unchanged. Regression of cysts was observed in 54% (33/61) of women < 60 years vs. in 8% (6/73) of those > or = 60 years (P = 0.0001). Ultrasound findings remained unchanged in 34% (21/61) of women < 60 years vs. in 77% (56/73) of those > or = 60 years (P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: The results support conservative management of adnexal cysts incidentally detected at transvaginal ultrasound examination and judged to be benign in postmenopausal women. Whether such cysts need to be followed-up at all and, if they do, how often and for how long, remains an open question.

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publication status
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keywords
Vagina: ultrasonography, Adnexal Diseases: pathology, Adnexal Diseases: surgery, Adnexal Diseases: ultrasonography, Non-U.S. Gov't, Cysts: pathology, Cysts: surgery, Cysts: ultrasonography, Female, Human, Middle Age, Postmenopause, Pregnancy, Support
in
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology
volume
20
issue
2
pages
7 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • wos:000177259100012
  • pmid:12153669
  • scopus:0036417272
  • pmid:12153669
ISSN
1469-0705
DOI
10.1046/j.1469-0705.2002.00709.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
55e391f6-7265-436c-bb95-38b1dafa94af (old id 115022)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Akrawi%20D%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:59:20
date last changed
2022-01-28 23:33:55
@article{55e391f6-7265-436c-bb95-38b1dafa94af,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: To determine the natural history of adnexal cysts incidentally detected at transvaginal ultrasound examination and judged to be benign in postmenopausal women.</p><p>METHODS: One hundred and thirty-four postmenopausal women referred for ultrasound examination and found to have an adnexal cyst judged to be benign and not causing any symptoms were followed with transvaginal ultrasound at 3, 6 and 12 months, and then every 12 months. The referring physician treated the patient at his/her own discretion.</p><p>RESULTS: One hundred and sixty cysts were found, 121 (76%) being unilocular and 39 more complicated. Seventy-two cysts (45%) had a largest diameter of 3-19 mm and 88 (55%) had a largest diameter of 20-80 mm. Median follow-up time was 3 (range, 0.3-8) years. In twelve women (9%) the cysts were removed during follow-up, all their cysts (n = 14) being benign. The indication to operate was a change in cyst morphology or increased cyst size in five (4%) women. In 39 (29%) women, the cysts disappeared; in 18 (13%), new cysts developed; and, in 65 (49%), the number of cysts and their location remained unchanged. Regression of cysts was observed in 54% (33/61) of women &lt; 60 years vs. in 8% (6/73) of those &gt; or = 60 years (P = 0.0001). Ultrasound findings remained unchanged in 34% (21/61) of women &lt; 60 years vs. in 77% (56/73) of those &gt; or = 60 years (P = 0.0001).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: The results support conservative management of adnexal cysts incidentally detected at transvaginal ultrasound examination and judged to be benign in postmenopausal women. Whether such cysts need to be followed-up at all and, if they do, how often and for how long, remains an open question.</p>}},
  author       = {{Valentin, Lil and Akrawi, D}},
  issn         = {{1469-0705}},
  keywords     = {{Vagina: ultrasonography; Adnexal Diseases: pathology; Adnexal Diseases: surgery; Adnexal Diseases: ultrasonography; Non-U.S. Gov't; Cysts: pathology; Cysts: surgery; Cysts: ultrasonography; Female; Human; Middle Age; Postmenopause; Pregnancy; Support}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{174--180}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology}},
  title        = {{The natural history of adnexal cysts incidentally detected at transvaginal ultrasound examination in postmenopausal women}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-0705.2002.00709.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1046/j.1469-0705.2002.00709.x}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}