Serous cystadenoma of the ovary: a rare cause of an antenatally detected abdominal cyst.
This case report describes an antenatally detected, persistent abdominal cyst in a term female neonate that was non-specific on imaging, found surgically to arise from the right adnexa, and diagnosed histopathologically as ovarian serous cystadenoma.
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This case report describes an antenatally detected, persistent abdominal cyst in a term female neonate that was non-specific on imaging, found surgically to arise from the right adnexa, and diagnosed histopathologically as ovarian serous cystadenoma.
Research significance
The reported evidence shows that a rare benign ovarian neoplasm can mimic other neonatal abdominal cysts and be identified through surgical exploration and histopathology; it is reasonable but unproven to infer that including serous cystadenoma in the differential diagnosis could improve operative planning and selection of persistent or large lesions for timely intervention.
Source abstract
Antenatally detected cystic abdominal masses in neonates pose a diagnostic challenge, particularly in female infants where ovarian pathology is common but heterogeneous. We report a term female neonate with a large intra-abdominal cyst detected antenatally and persisting postnatally. Imaging revealed a well-defined, unilocular, avascular cyst without solid components, initially suggestive of an enteric duplication cyst. Postnatal imaging was non-specific as to the origin of the lesion. Given the size and persistence of the lesion, surgical exploration was undertaken. Intraoperatively, the mass was found to arise from the right adnexa, and histopathological examination confirmed a serous cystadenoma of the ovary. This rare diagnosis highlights the limitations of imaging in distinguishing benign abdominal cysts from uncommon ovarian neoplasms and underscores the importance of a structured diagnostic approach and timely surgical intervention in selected cases.