paraovarian cysts
Paraovarian cysts account for 10-20% of all adnexal masses and are relatively uncommon in children. They are more common in women 30 to 40 years of age.
Paraovarian cysts arise from the tissues of the broad ligament, predominantly from mesothelium covering the peritoneum (mesothelial cysts) but also from paramesonephric (paramesonephric cysts or Mullerian cyst) and rarely mesonephric remnants (mesonephric cyst or Wolffian cyst).
They are usually incidentally discovered during surgery and prophylactic excision is performed due to the increased incidence of torsion as well as their propensity to undergo rapid enlargement.
Paramesonephric cysts
The paramesonephric duct (or Mullerian duct) forms the fallopian tube at about 9 weeks of gestation. Multiple invaginations near the ostium of the tube become the fimbriae. Any secondary invagination that does not connect may form a blind sac and enlarge to form a paraovanan cyst.
Other paraovarian cysts
Commonly these are referred to as hydatid cysts of Morgagni, Wolffian cysts, Kobelt cysts, and cysts of the organ of Rosenmuller.
Complications
paraovarian cyst torsion (2-16%)
hemorrhage
rupture
secondary infection
neoplasatic transformation (2.9%)
- papillary serous cystadenoma
- endometrioid cystadenocarcinoma
- serous cystadenocarcinoma
- mucinous cystadenocarcinoma
Torsion of the paraovarian cyst is three times more common in pregnant women likely related to rapid growth spurt.
See also
- pelvic cysts