Ovarian cyst in a child

An ovarian cyst is a benign neoplasm that forms as a result of the accumulation of secretions in the ovarian tissue. Most often, the cyst occurs in women of childbearing age, but it is not uncommon for girls under 15 years old and even in newborns. Sometimes this disease is diagnosed in the prenatal period, during an ultrasound scan.

The reasons for the formation

The occurrence of an ovarian cyst in a newborn child is due to the influence of three main factors:

• The impact of maternal hormones on the ovaries of the fetus: estrogen, chorionic gonadotropin.
• Immaturity of regulation in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary system in a child.
• Violation of the intrauterine bookmarks of internal organs (for organic cysts).

In adolescent girls, ovarian cysts most often result from:

• imbalance of sex hormones;
• inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs;
• endocrine metabolic disorders;
• hereditary factor.

Symptoms

Quite often, an ovarian cyst in a child develops without severe symptoms and is detected during an ultrasound examination as an accidental finding. However, sometimes the growth of a cyst can be accompanied by painful sensations in the lower abdomen, menstrual irregularities in adolescent girls, and bloody discharge from the genital tract. If you notice similar symptoms in your child, you should immediately contact a pediatric gynecologist.

Treatment

When a functional ovarian cyst is detected in a child, observation is usually carried out for 3 months. Hormone therapy for resorption of the cyst is rarely and more often prescribed during adolescence. If the cyst has not regressed, surgery is indicated. In children and adolescents, laparoscopic intervention is the method of choice. Minimally invasive manipulations help to preserve the healthy tissues and reproductive health of the girl. The volume of the operation depends on the course of the disease, while an organ-preserving operation can be performed, which implies the removal of the cyst or radical intervention - the removal of the appendage.

The Dobrobut network of medical clinics in Kyiv invites little patients and their parents to consult a pediatric gynecologist. In our arsenal: the best doctors of Ukraine, the latest diagnostic and treatment equipment, high-quality service, reasonable prices. You can find out a full list of our services and their cost on the website.

Bibliography

1. Ovarian Cysts in Children and Teens Published online, November 22, 2019.
2. Ovarian Cysts in Girls. Published online, 2021.
3. Ovarian Cysts | Symptoms & Causes - Boston Children's Hospital. Published online, 2020.