Prevalence and histologic diagnosis of adnexal cysts in postmenopausal women: an autopsy study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this autopsy study was to examine the prevalence and histologic condition of adnexal cysts in postmenopausal women.

Study design: Adnexa of 234 postmenopausal women who had died from nongynecologic diseases were examined by the team pathologist.

Results: Ovarian cysts were found in 36 of the women (15.4%). Nine women (3.8%) had ovarian cysts with a diameter between 20 and < or =50 mm; 4 women (1.7%) had cysts that were >50 mm in diameter. Four women had bilateral ovarian cysts. Paraovarian cysts were found in 11 women (4.7%). All cysts were benign, except for 1 woman, who had bilateral serous cystadenoma of borderline type. Macroscopically, the borderline cysts were multilocular with mean diameters of 60 mm and 15 mm, respectively.

Conclusion: Because of the high prevalence of benign adnexal cysts, the identification of small unilocular cysts in postmenopausal women should be regarded as a normal finding.