ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefits of laparoscopic surgery compare with laparotomy in the surgical management of adnexal tumors during pregnancy. METHODS: Operating time, hospital stays, complications and pregnancy outcome were analyzed in 18 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery and 30 patients who underwent laparotomy due to adnexal tumors discovered during pregnancy at Chungnam National University Hospital from January 1993 to June 2000. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 27.1 years and mean gestational age was not significantly different between the two groups. Tumor size was larger in laparotomy group (8.4 vs 6.4 cm in diameter). Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was most common operative procedures and cystic teratoma was most common histologic findings in both groups. Operating time was not significantly different between the two groups. Blood loss (43.2 vs 18.3 mL) and hospital stay (7.1 vs 5.7 days) was significantly less in laparscopy group. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery may be an effective treatment of adnexal tumors during pregnancy.