Conservative versus surgical treatment for complex neonatal ovarian cysts: outcomes study.

Objective: Prenatally diagnosed complex ovarian cysts are most often managed surgically in an attempt to save the ovary. Nevertheless, published surgical results disclose that most patients undergo oophorectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy. We assessed whether a surgical or conservative approach was more appropriate by comparing the long-term outcome of infants treated by both methods. A hypothesis for the cause of complex cysts is presented.

Conclusion: Clinical evidence questions the use of surgery for asymptomatic complex ovarian cysts. Histologic analysis suggests gonad maldevelopment as the origin of complex neonatal ovarian cysts.