Calcified Bilateral Ovarian Fibroma in a 15 Year Old Female: Case Report and Literature Review
Alaba Moses Adesina
Department of Surgery, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria.
John Osaigbovoh Imaralu *
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria.
Adebola Olukayode Yusuf
Department of Radiodiagnosis, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria.
Mustapha Akanji Ajani
Department Histopathology, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To highlight the potential for misdiagnosis of ovarian fibromas and need for careful evaluation especially when fertility altering decisions need to be taken in the young adolescent.
Presentation of Case: The authors here review literature and present the case of a 15 year old pre-menarchal patient with bilateral, solid hard ovarian tumors with marked ascites, who had bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, in whom the tumors turned out to be bilateral calcific ovarian fibromas.
Discussion: Ovarian neoplasia are often misdiagnosed because of their non-specific symptoms and similarities to other pathologies on radiological imaging. The management of adolescents with ovarian tumors poses peculiar challenges as there is need for a balance between the risk of malignancy and the need to preserve fertility. About 1/3 of pelvic masses in pre-pubertal girls are malignant. This fact in addition to the non-specific features of malignancy in this patient such as weight loss, ascites, necessitated further evaluation which included laparotomy.
Conclusion: Ovarian fibromas occur in adolescents and can pose a diagnostic dilemma; a high index of suspicion is required to plan fertility-sparing and cancer-limiting management.
Keywords: Cancer, fertility, fibroid, fibroma, ovary, tumors