ABSTRACT
The "floating ball sign" (FBS) is a rarely described visual phenomenon found in mature ovarian teratoma imaging. It is characterized by the presence of movable, spherical areas within the cystic component of a tumor. Such visualization is possible both in cross-sectional imaging and ultrasonography. To evaluate the incidence of FBS in the pediatric population with regard to patients' age and tumor size. This is a retrospective study of pediatric patients operated on in a tertiary pediatric surgical center between January 2009 and December 2022 due to mature ovarian teratoma; the medical records were reviewed for the age at diagnosis, recurrences, tumor size, and their characteristics in preoperative imaging. Eighty-three patients (mean age 14, range 0-17) out of 91 met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. Eighty-seven operations on 90 ovaries were performed. Preoperatively 38 patients underwent CT, 13 MRI, and 39 received only the ultrasound examination. The FBS was identified in preoperative imaging diagnostics in 3 (3.3%) girls (14, 16 and 17 years of age). The average largest tumor dimension and volume were 142 mm and 1268 cc in the FBS group, and 73 mm and 252 cc in the remaining group, respectively. FBS tumors usually reach large sizes. Although the sign is rare in children, there are no scientific reports of its occurrence in the first life decade. Color flow mapping and cross-sectional imaging play a pertinent role in distinguishing this uncommon pattern from a malignant mass and enable the selection of an appropriate surgical approach.
Subject(s)
Ovarian Neoplasms , Teratoma , Female , Child , Humans , Adolescent , Male , Retrospective Studies , Ovarian Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Ovarian Neoplasms/surgery , Ultrasonography , Teratoma/diagnostic imaging , Teratoma/surgeryABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Despite its benign nature, possible bilateral presentation, and a very good prognosis, ovarian sparing tumorectomy (OST) in mature ovarian teratoma (MOT) is not commonly performed. Unilateral oophorectomy has physiological consequences, while bilateral is devastating. The aim of this study is promotion of OST in MOT among children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 120 patients operated for MOT between August 1999 and 2019. RESULTS: Ovariectomy was performed in 15 patients (14 between 1999 and 2009 and 1 after 2010). In 105 girls, OST was possible including 32 with ovarian torsion. The approach was laparoscopy in 30 girls (11 conversions) and laparotomy in 94. Intra-abdominal spillage occurred in 30% of laparoscopic dissections. Postoperative morbidity was not associated with surgical approach (p = 0.613) or presence of adnexal torsion (p = 0,608). Follow-up was from 4 months to 9 years (median = 4 years) with access to 90% of patients. Bilateral lesions were observed in six (synchronous in five and metachronous in one) patients. Recurrence appeared in three patients operated via laparotomy and OST (after 12, 46, and 74 months). In one girl, asynchronous contralateral MOT was found 5 years after unilateral oophorectomy. Ovarian regeneration after torsion was observed in sonography in 84.4% of the patients. None of the patients experienced chemical peritonitis or malignant tumor transformation. CONCLUSION: OST is safe and effective and should be the first-line procedure in children. Laparoscopy and laparotomy constitute a complementary approach to MOT. Ultrasound follow-up is necessary to monitor recurrence, contralateral disease, and ovarian regeneration.
