Twisted Paraovarian Cyst with Secondary Torsion of the Fallopian Tube: A Rare Cause of Abdominal Pain with Diagnostic Dilemma

Abstract

Acute abdominal pain is one of the common reasons for patients to seek medical attention. There are multiple medical and surgical causes of abdominal pain. One uncommon cause is a twisted paraovarian cyst, which requires prompt intervention to decrease the patient’s morbidity. A paraovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops in the broad ligament and is often asymptomatic. A 38-year-old woman presented with dull aching pain in her right lower abdomen for four days. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed thickening of the segmental bowel in the right lower abdomen with adjacent oedema. The uterus and both ovaries appeared normal. Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) showed a cystic density lesion measuring 4.0×3.3 cm, adjacent to the uterus, and the right ovary could not be visualised separately. Inflammatory changes were observed in the small bowel, extending into the right iliac region, and the appendix could not be visualised separately. An emergency laparotomy was performed, which, however, revealed a twisted paraovarian cyst along with a right fallopian tube showing signs of complete necrosis. The paraovarian cyst and the right fallopian tube were removed, and the patient had an uneventful recovery. Torsion of the paraovarian cyst with secondary torsion of the fallopian tube is a rare phenomenon and should be considered as a cause of abdominal pain in females of reproductive age group.

Keywords

• adnexal mass
• laparotomy
• necrosis
• ovary