Laparoscopic surgery in 12 cases of adnexal disease occurring in girls aged 15 years or younger

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment by laparoscopic Surgery of adnexal disease occurring in young girls. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis (Canadian Task Force classification II-I). SETTING: Department of gynecology at a general hospital. PATIENTS: Twelve consecutive girls aged 15 years or younger. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Seven patients had dermoid cysts, and three of these were associated with adnexal torsion. Two patients had ruptured lutein cysts with ovarian bleeding, and one of them was pregnant. Torsion of the tube with paraovarian cyst, torsion of normal ovary, and serous cystadenoma were noted in one patient each. Although the underlying diseases varied, the chief symptom in each of these patients was lower abdominal pain. Because the symptom is nonspecific, the clinical features were confusing, especially in emergency cases; in two patients with adnexal torsion with dermoid cysts and one patient with adnexal torsion of a normal ovary, there was substantial delay in diagnosis, and salpingo-oophorectomy was required as a result. CONCLUSION: Even in young girls, laparoscopic surgery can be performed in an acceptable manner using regular instruments designed for adults. (c) 2005 AAGL. All rights reserved.