A giant serous cystadenoma developing in an accessory ovary.

Background: Accessory ovaries are rare anomalies and cysts arising from accessory ovaries are extremely rare. Their reported incidence is 1/29,000-1/700,000. Establishing the diagnosis preoperatively is difficult. Radiologic methods are usually inadequate in recognizing the origin of these tumors. Thus, they are usually confused with other intraabdominal tumors.

Case: A 22-year-old nulliparous girl presented with abdominal pain and tumoral growth for 1.5 years. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography revealed a 33 x 26 x 15 cm cystic mass filling the abdominal cavity. The preoperative diagnosis was a mesenteric cyst. Diagnostic laparotomy revealed a giant cystic mass arising in an accessory ovary. The left tuba and fimbrias were adhered to the cyst. The tumor was totally removed and fimbrioplasty performed.

Conclusion: In spite of being rare entities, paraovarian anomalies should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraabdominal tumors, especially when the origin is not identified by radiologic means.

Case: A 22-year-old single, nulliparious female was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain, nausea and a growing abdominal swelling since 1.5 years. A tumoral mass was palpated on physical examination. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography revealed a 33 x 26 x 15 cm cystic mass filling the abdominal cavity. The origin of the tumor could not be detected. Operation revealed a giant cystic mass arising from an accessory ovary. Histopathologic diagnosis was serous cystadenoma.

Conclusion: Ovarian or accessory ovarian pathologies must be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraabdominal tumors, especially in young female population.