Abstract
Objective The purpose of this review was to determine the likelihood of malignancy or complications
with ultrasonographic diagnosis of adnexal masses in pregnancy and to evaluate the
obstetrical outcomes.
Materials and Methods A review of literature was performed using keywords “adnexal mass and pregnancy”
or “ovarian mass and pregnancy.”
Results Out of the 340 abstracts reviewed, 313 were excluded. The incidence of adnexal mass
in pregnancy varied from 0.1 to 2.4%, with an average of 0.02%. Regarding the likelihood
of malignancy, in seven publications, there were 557 women with 563 adnexal masses.
Of these 563 masses, 48% were classified as simple and 52% as complex. Among the simple
masses, 1% were malignant. Among the complex masses, 9% were malignant. When comparing
laparoscopy and laparotomy, the rate of preterm contractions was found to be higher
in patients undergoing laparotomy and this was statistically significant. Other measures,
such as spontaneous abortion, vaginal bleeding, < 37 week delivery, and intrauterine
fetal demise, were not found to have a significant difference.
Conclusion Adnexal masses in pregnancy occur infrequently and depending on whether the surgery
was performed emergently or electively, via laparoscopy or laparotomy, the outcomes
will vary.
Keywords
adnexal mass - pregnancy - malignancy
