Clinical manifestations of benign ovarian tumors

Aims and objectives: To examine the cases of Benign Ovarian Tumours and their clinical manifestations. Design:- Prospective study of consecutive cases of Ovarian tumours, identified using gynaecological case records. Place: Tertiary care teaching hospital affiliated with Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore, managing more than 1500 gynaecological cases annually. Subjects: 50 cases of Ovarian tumours managed in Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore between 1st May 2004 to 1st May 2005. Results: The most common presenting complaints were abdominal pain or discomfort and palpable tumour causing abdominal distension. Abdominal pain was present in 70% of benign ovarian tumours. 20% of the patients had pain due to torsion of ovarian cyst. The complaint of a palpable tumour was found in 4 7% of cases. Vague abdominal and bowel complaints were present in 2 2.5% of cases. 6(15%) patients were asymptomatic. Of these 2 were diagnosed by ultrasound and 3 at the time of emergency Cesarean section and one on routine pelvic examination. Menstrual irregularity and urinary complaints were present in a small number of patients. None of the patient complaint of weight loss or post menopausal bleeding. Conclusion: Benign Ovarian Tumours are most common cause of ovarian enlargement and a very common cause of hospital admission. Symptoms and signs are non specific and presentation is a late stage.