A 10-year experience of laparoscopic surgery for adnexal masses during pregnancy

ObjectiveTo assess the clinicopathologic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for adnexal masses during pregnancy.MethodsIn a retrospective study, the medical records of 88 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for adnexal masses during pregnancy between 2000 and 2009 were reviewed.ResultsThe mean age of the study population was 30.1 years (range 21–40 years), and the mean gestational age at surgery was 11.6 weeks (4.6–23.6 weeks). The mean diameter of the mass on sonography was 7.5 cm (1.8–18 cm). Pathologically, the most common tumor was a mature cystic teratoma (35.2%), and the prevalence of malignancy was 6.8%. Emergency surgery due to torsion was performed in 28 patients (31.8%). Two spontaneous abortions occurred, both after emergency surgery. The frequency of obstetric complications, such as low birth weight, preterm delivery, use of tocolytics for preterm labor, low Apgar score, and fetal anomaly, was acceptable.ConclusionLaparoscopic surgery for adnexal masses during pregnancy provided tolerable outcomes for the fetus and the mother. In the future, larger prospective clinical trials are necessary to elucidate fully the impact on the fetus.