Challenging Diagnosis and Management of an Ovarian Cyst Torsion in a Postmenopausal Woman: A Case Report

Cureus. 2023 Oct 25;15(10):e47693. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47693. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Ovarian masses are rare in the postmenopausal age group, and ovarian torsion is a gynecological emergency. We present a case report of a 63-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented a massive abdominal mass with pain that gradually increased during the previous 12 months. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis suggested a 16.6 cm × 14 cm × 13 cm originating from the right ovary. Total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy, and partial omentectomy were performed in an emergency as the patient's symptoms worsened. A massive cyst was visualized from the right ovary, which had undergone a torsion of three turns. Histopathological analysis revealed a serous cystadenoma. The twisted ovarian cyst typically manifests as an acute abdomen, although there are cases where this presentation can cause a significant delay in diagnosis. Therefore, high clinical suspicion is often necessary to prevent morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: benign tumors; cysts; ovarian epithelial neoplasms; ovarian masses; ovarian torsion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports