Ovarian Cysts and Pelvic Tumors Surgery in Jacksonville, FL

Pelvic tumors and ovarian cysts

Women with an adnexal (related to the area next to the uterus, usually ovary or tube) mass or pelvic tumors typically present with gynecologic symptoms and a tumor, mass, or cyst identified on pelvic imaging. An asymptomatic adnexal (related to the ovary or tube) mass may be discovered on pelvic examination or imaging. The goal of the evaluation of an adnexal mass is to rule out cancer, resolve symptoms, and determine the most likely identify of the mass. This process is often challenging, since there are many types of adnexal masses and a definitive diagnosis often requires surgical evaluation.

The most common adnexal masses in premenopausal women, are follicular cysts and corpus luteum cysts. These are the result of normal function of the ovary and require no treatment unless symptomatic or persistent. Some cysts or masses are complex and not part of normal function, but not cancerous. Examples include endometriomas, mature teratomas (dermoids), serous or mucinous cystadenomas, and ovarian fibromas. Ovarian and tubal cancers can present without symptoms or with mild/vague symptoms and an adnexal mass. Torsion is a surgical emergency where an ovary or tube has twisted upon itself, cutting off its blood supply and causing tissue death. Abscesses can form as a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease or sexually transmitted infections. A mass or distension in the fallopian tube may be an ectopic pregnancy, a hydrosalpinx (swollen, blocked tube, usually related to scarring), benign paratubal cyst, or a tubal cancer. GI disease can sometimes mimic an adnexal mass such as a mass in the appendix or abscesses and colon cancer.