Abstract:

Background: Ovarian masses occur in all age groups, and are one of the major health problems confronting the general practitioners and gynecologists in particular. Presence of an ovarian mass is easily made by an ultrasound but final diagnosis to determine the nature of the mass requires histopathological examination. Non-neoplastic lesions can be confused with neoplasm clinically, intraoperative, or during pathological examination. Differentiation between these masses is relevant since proper management depends on definite diagnosis which is made histologically. At Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) the clinical presentation and histological pattern of ovarian masses is not documented.

Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional based study which involved 76 participants scheduled for operation due to an ovarian mass over a period of six months; November 2012 to April 2013. Information relating to socio-demographic, physical examination, intraoperative and histopathological findings of the patients ovarian mass were collected.

Results: A total of 76 participants were enrolled into this study. The most affected age by ovarian mass was 28 years. Most frequently reported symptom was abdominal pain 56(73.7%) and abdominal distension 52(68.9%) with most participants presenting with more than one symptom. Neoplastic masses were the commonest 54(71.1%) and among them majority were benign 36(66.6%). All non-neoplastic masses were found in women of reproductive age; in pre-menarche majority (60%) were malignant and in post-menopausal most were benign (61.9%). Among the 22 non-neoplastic masses, follicular cyst was common 13(56.5%) while endometriotic cysts were the least 2(8.7%). Of neoplastic masses the commonest histological pattern was epithelial ovarian tumors 27(50%) followed by germ cell tumors 22(40.7%). Mucinous cyst adenocarcinoma were the commonest malignant ovarian masses seen (38.9%) and mature teratoma were the commonest benign neoplastic ovarian masses (52.8%).

Conclusion: Commonest clinical presentation of ovarian masses includes abdominal pain and abdominal distension, and some patients presented with more than one symptom. Epithelial ovarian tumors were the commonest histological pattern whereby mature teratoma was the commonest benign masses, and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma was the commonest malignant ovarian masses.