eMedicine Specialties > Obstetrics and Gynecology > General Gynecology

Adnexal Tumors: Follow-up

Author: Margrit M Juretzka, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, Stanford University Hospital and Clinics
Coauthor(s): Nelson Teng, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Stanford School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Oct 16, 2008

Outcome and Prognosis

Most adnexal masses are benign; outcome and prognosis are very good. Generally, no impact on life span or quality of life is noted. In fact, most women treated for adnexal masses have no interruption in their reproductive abilities.

Those women who are found to have malignant adnexal masses fall into 3 groups, as follows:

  • Women ranging in age from the late teens (y) to early 20s (y): Germ cell tumors are seen in these women. The tumors are generally confined to the ovary and are cured in 90% of women after chemotherapy.
  • Women aged 40-60 years: Epithelial tumors are the most common ovarian cancer in these women. These tumors are advanced (stage III-IV) in more than 50% of women. Even after the use of chemotherapy, only 10-40% of patients survive their disease.25
  • Women older than 60 years: Ovarian epithelial malignancies are common in this group of patients. Metastatic malignancies are also common. The incidence of sex-cord stromal tumors also increases in incidence in this age group, although it still accounts for only 5% of tumors. Stromal tumors are often early stage and may have an indolent course.

Future and Controversies

Future

The future holds several interesting possibilities. First, the rapid expansion of new laparoscopic equipment makes minimally invasive surgery an area that is gaining increasing importance in the treatment of adnexal masses. Second, the development of new radiologic techniques or expansion of the present techniques will allow the clinician to gain additional characterization of adnexal masses without entering the surgical suite. Third, new molecular, genetic, and biologic markers and therapies should become available that will assist in the diagnosis and treatment of adnexal masses, both benign and malignant.

Controversies

The major controversy surrounding adnexal masses is when and how to treat them. While some adnexal masses can be clearly stratified into low- or high-risk for malignancy based on clinical, laboratory, and clinical findings, currently, there are no definitive means of preoperative diagnosis with imaging or laboratory findings.

 


More on Adnexal Tumors

Overview: Adnexal Tumors
Workup: Adnexal Tumors
Treatment: Adnexal Tumors
Follow-up: Adnexal Tumors
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

adnexal mass, pelvic mass, ovarian mass, pelvic masses, ovarian masses, ovarian cysts, ovarian neoplasms, fallopian tube masses, fallopian tube neoplasms, follicular cyst, endometriosis, ovarian cancer, functional cysts, nonfunctional cysts, germ cell tumor, adult cystic teratoma, dermoid cyst

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Margrit M Juretzka, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, Stanford University Hospital and Clinics
Margrit M Juretzka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society of Gynecologist Oncologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Nelson Teng, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Stanford School of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

John J Kavanagh Jr, MD, Chief, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gynecological and Medical Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas College of Medicine
John J Kavanagh Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for the History of Medicine, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Medical Association, Society of Gynecologist Oncologists, Southern Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

A David Barnes, MD, PhD, MPH, FACOG, Consulting Staff, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mammoth Hospital (Mammoth Lakes, California), Pioneer Valley Hospital (Salt Lake City, Utah), Warren General Hospital (Warren, Pennsylvania), and Mountain West Hospital (Tooele, Utah)
A David Barnes, MD, PhD, MPH, FACOG is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Forensic Examiners, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and Utah Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Frederick B Gaupp, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Family Practice, Hancock Medical Center
Frederick B Gaupp, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michel E Rivlin, MD, Professor, Coordinator of Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine
Michel E Rivlin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Mississippi State Medical Association, and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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