The growth pattern of ovarian dermoid cysts: a prospective study in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Objective: To evaluate prospectively the evolution of ovarian dermoid cysts and the safety of nonsurgical management in premenopausal women. Design: A prospective study. Setting: Tertiary hospital-based ultrasonographic unit. Patient(s): Between 1985 and 1994, 72 premenopausal and 14 postmenopausal women had ovarian dermoid cysts <6 cm in diameter diagnosed by ultrasound and were followed up at Kaplan Medical Center in Israel. Intervention(s): Ultrasound examination was scheduled at 3 and 9 months after the initial diagnosis and then annually. Every cyst was measured in three planes. The growth rate of the cysts was calculated from the data gathered. Main Outcome Measure(s): Prospective evaluation of the evolution of dermoid cysts and the safety of nonsurgical management in premenopausal women by an ultrasonographic follow-up. Result(s): For the premenopausal and postmenopausal women, the mean age (+/-SD) at diagnosis was 32.3 +/- 8.2 and 61.1 +/- 6.9 years, the:mean duration of follow-up was 34.5 +/- 21.6 and 35.3 +/- 26.8 months, the mean cyst size at diagnosis was 3.7 +/- 1.2 and 4.1 +/- 1.5 cm, and the calculated mean growth rate was 1.77 +/- 3.86 and -1.59 +/- 2.48 mm/y, respectively. The difference in the mean growth rate of the cysts between the two groups was statistically significant. The mean growth rate was significantly different from zero in the premenopausal group but not in the postmenopausal group. Twenty-eight women were delivered of 35 healthy infants without complications attributable to the dermoid cysts. The cysts were removed surgically in 24 of the 86 women (27.9%), and benign cystic teratomas were confirmed by histologic examination in all cases. Conclusion(s): Premenopausal women with ovarian dermoid cysts of <6 cm in diameter can be safely managed expectantly, especially if pregnancy is desired. The mean growth rate of dermoid cysts in premenopausal women is 1.8 mm/y. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.