Objective: to define limits, risks and results in the long term of laparoscopic treatment of ovarian tumors.
Method: retrospective study of adnexal tumors managed initially by laparoscopy from January 1986 to December 1992, among which 9 cancers, 25 borderline tumors, and 769 benign lesions. The ultrasonographic appearance was known for 698 of 803 lesions. 86 patients were postmenopausal (92 lesions).
Results: we treated 191 functional cysts, 160 serous cystadenomas, 178 endometriomas, 105 dermoid cysts, 39 mucinous cystadenomas and 96 miscellaneous lesions among which fibrothecomas, paraadnexal cysts, ovarian pregnancies, ovarian abscess. There is a great diversity of ultrasonographic patterns for a same histological type, specially for functional cysts and borderline tumors. Laparoscopic exploration has misdiagnosed two cancers and 10 borderline tumors and considered wrongly as suspects 19 benign lesions. 714 procedures have been led to term by laparoscopy, 89 have been ended by laparotomy, 26 for suspicion of malignancy and 50 for dissection failure. 27 postoperative complications have been counted among which 2 grafts on trocard sites after non protected extraction of one dermoid cyst and one borderline tumor.
Conclusion: ultrasonographic appearance could not predict reliably the organic or functional nor benign or malignant character of an adnexal mass. Even careful laparoscopic examination can underestimate early stage ovarian cancer or borderline tumors. When diagnosed during or after laparoscopic procedure an ovarian cancer should always be managed by laparotomy. On the other hand, some borderline tumors can be treated by exclusive laparoscopy. When malignancy is suspected, an adnexectomy can be performed laparoscopically as a biopsy and allows a quick and appropriate treatment after paraffin-embedded sections. Both intraperitoneal and transparietal techniques have a minimal morbidity and allow a feasibility of more than 90%. The management of postmenopausal ovarian tumors differs only by the use of systematic oophorectomy if surgical procedure is indicated.