Functional ovarian cysts in childhood: A singlecenter experience in diagnostic and therapeutic practices

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the follow-up protocols of pediatric patients diagnosedwith functional (developmental) ovarian cysts in our hospital and to compare our approachwith findings in the literature.Materials and methods: Medical records of 12,012 pediatric surgery outpatientsfrom January 2018 to December 2023 were reviewed based on ICD-10 codes. Patientcomplaints, clinical history, laboratory and imaging findings, follow-up strategies, andtreatment methods were analyzed.Results: Among 3917 female patients, 17 were diagnosed with functional ovarian cysts,representing a prevalence of 0.15%. The mean age was 12.7 years. Seven patients werediagnosed incidentally, seven presented with abdominal pain, one with abdominaldistention, one with a breast lesion, and one with menstrual irregularity. Hormonal tests(Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone,prolactin) were fully performed in seven patients, partially in three, and not performedin seven. Thirteen patients had ovarian cysts; the mean diameter was 32.2 mm in theleft ovary and 43.0 mm in the right ovary. Three patients had bilateral cysts. No medicaltreatment was given. Surgery was performed in four patients—one via laparotomy for a20 cm cyst, and three via laparoscopy. One patient declined surgery. Eight patients werefollowed for an average of 1.5 years, with no additional interventions required.Conclusion: Our pediatric surgery clinic has followed the classic algorithm for ovariancysts. The most remarkable finding is that ultrasound results differ conspicuously indifferent centers. Our findings could be an appendix to the issue in the country.