Ovarian torsion

Ovarian torsion
Classification and external resources
Arteries of the female reproductive tract: uterine artery, ovarian artery and vaginal arteries. (Ovary and ovarian artery visible in upper right.)
ICD-10	N83.5
ICD-9	620.5
DiseasesDB	31120
eMedicine	article/795994

Ovarian torsion (OT) refers to the rotation of the ovary to such a degree as to occlude the ovarian artery and/or vein.

Epidemiology

Ovarian torsion accounts for about 3% of gynecologic emergencies. In 70 percent, it is diagnosed in women between 20 and 39 years. The risk is greater during pregnancy and in the menopause. The risk factors are increased length of the ovarian ligaments, pathologically enlarged ovaries (more than 6 cm), tumors, enlarged corpus luteum in pregnancy and jerky movements.

Presentation

Patients with ovarian torsion often present with sudden onset of sharp and usually unilateral lower abdominal pain, in 70% of cases accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In case of necrosis, fever occurs.^[1]

Use of Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis has been suggested.^[2][3]

Pathophysiology

The development of an ovarian mass is related to the development of torsion. In the reproductive years, regular growth of large corpus luteal cysts are a risk factor for rotation. The mass effect of ovarian tumors is also a common cause of torsion. Torsion of the ovary usually occurs with torsion of the fallopian tube as well on their shared vascular pedicle around the broad ligament, although in rare cases the ovary rotates around the mesovarium or the fallopian tube rotates around the mesosalpinx. In 80%, torsion happens unilaterally, with slight predominance on the right.

Diagnosis

Ovarian torsion is difficult to diagnose accurately, and operation is often performed before certain diagnosis is made. A study at an Israeli obstetrics and gynaecology department found that preoperative diagnosis of ovarian torsion was confirmed in only 46% of patients.^[4]

Lack of ovarian blood flow on Doppler sonography seems to be a good predictor of ovarian torsion. Women with pathologically low flow are more likely to have OT (77% vs. 29% in an Israeli study).^[4] The sensitivity and specificity of abnormal ovarian flow for OT are 44% and 92%, respectively, with a positive and negative predictive value of 78% and 71%, respectively.^[4]

Treatment

Conservative treatment of ovarian torsion includes laparoscopy to uncoil the torsed ovary and possibly oophoropexy to fixate the ovary which is likely to torse again. In severe cases, where blood flow is cut off to the ovary for an extended period of time, necrosis of the ovary can occur. In these cases the ovary must be surgically removed.

References

1. ^ eMedicine. "Ovarian Torsion: Overview." http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/795994-overview
2. ^ Peña JE, Ufberg D, Cooney N, Denis AL (May 2000). "Usefulness of Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of ovarian torsion". Fertil. Steril. 73 (5): 1047–50. doi:10.1016/S0015-0282(00)00487-8. PMID 10785237. 
3. ^ Zanforlin Filho SM, Araujo Júnior E, Serafini P, et al. (April 2008). "Diagnosis of ovarian torsion by three-dimensional power Doppler in first trimester of pregnancy". J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Res. 34 (2): 266–70. doi:10.1111/j.1447-0756.2008.00768.x. PMID 18412795. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Bar-On S, Mashiach R, Stockheim D, et al. (April 2010). "Emergency laparoscopy for suspected ovarian torsion: are we too hasty to operate?". Fertil. Steril. 93 (6): 2012–5. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.12.022. PMID 19159873.