Pediatric Ovarian Torsion: Should You Go With the Flow?

OBJECTIVES: Ovarian torsion (OT) is an emergency that mandates early detection and surgical detorsion to avoid catastrophic consequences of further adnexal injury. Prompt ultrasound is critical for accurate diagnosis. Traditionally, evaluation of arterial and venous flow was used as a diagnostic tool for OT, but recent radiologic research has indicated that ovarian size and size discrepancy between sides is a better diagnostic criterion. This study seeks to determine whether ovarian size discrepancy or vascular flow to the ovary is more accurate in the diagnosis of OT in the pediatric emergency population and to better describe symptoms that distinguish OT from other abdominal and pelvic pathology. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study evaluating all female pediatric patients, aged 1 to 18 years, who underwent a pelvic ultrasound to evaluate for OT over a 2-year period in our pediatric emergency department. Patients suitable for inclusion were identified via Nuance mPowerTM, a search engine that provides clinical analytics based on radiology reports generated within our institution. RESULTS: We reviewed the medical records of 193 female patients aged 1 to 18 years, all of whom had a pelvic ultrasound (with or without Doppler) to evaluate for OT during the study period. In comparing ovarian size on ultrasound, patients with OT had a significantly larger magnitude of difference in ovarian volume than patients without torsion (5.57× [interquartile range, 3-12.5] vs 1.56× [interquartile range, 1.24-2.25; P < 0.001]). Ovarian torsion was associated with a 33-fold increased risk of lack of arterial flow (relative risk, 33.33) and with a 9-fold increased risk of lack of venous flow (relative risk, 9.27), when compared with those patients without OT. Patients with OT were significantly more likely to have emesis and peritoneal signs on examination, as well as previous history of OT (P = 0.01, 0.02, and 0.002, respectively) than those without OT. All patients with OT reported abdominal pain. CONCLUSIONS: We found that a large size discrepancy between ovaries is indicative of OT. Our data also suggest that presence of Doppler flow on ultrasound cannot be used to exclude OT but that lack of Doppler flow on ultrasound is a significant diagnostic marker. As previous studies have also found, clinical symptoms of OT are nonspecific and do not offer any certainty in differentiating OT from other pathologies.

CT predictive model for torsion angle as a marker for risk of necrosis in patients with adnexal torsion.

AIM: To assess the feasibility of preoperative computed tomography (CT) prediction of torsion angle for stratifying the risk of necrosis in patients with adnexal torsion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this multicentre, retrospective study, 72 patients underwent preoperative CT and surgically verified adnexal torsion. Surgeons identified the torsion angle and adnexal necrosis requiring adnexectomy. The twisted angles were compared between conservative surgery group and salpingo-oophorectomy group. Variables included demographic, pathological and CT details. Logistic analysis was used to identify the indicators of twisted angle associated with high-risk necrosis. RESULTS: The necrosis associated with adnexal torsion treated with adnexectomy was performed more often in patients with a torsion angle of ≥720° (odds ratio [OR]=7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.314-37.295, p=0.023). The enlarged twisted pedicle (OR=14.592, 95% CI: 2.048-103.953, p=0.007) and pedicle haemorrhage (OR=5.612, 95% CI: 1.088-28.941, p=0.039) can predict a torsion angle of ≥720°, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC=0.758±0.058) was generated with the combined variables. CONCLUSION: The risk of adnexal necrosis is high in patients with torsion angle of ≥720°. CT findings of enlarged twisted pedicle and pedicle haemorrhage can be used to predict torsion angle of ≥720° and can imply adnexal necrosis indirectly.

Accuracy of imaging modalities for adnexal torsion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Adnexal torsion (AT), a serious gynaecological emergency, often presents with non-specific symptoms leading to delayed diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the test accuracy of ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose AT. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane CENTRAL until December 2019. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies reporting on the accuracy of any imaging modality (Index Test) in female patients (paediatric and adult) suspected of AT compared with surgical diagnosis and/or standard clinical/radiological follow-up period until resolution of symptoms (Reference Standard). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We assessed study quality using QUADAS-2. We conducted test accuracy meta-analysis using a univariate model or a hierarchical model. MAIN RESULTS: We screened 3836 citations, included 18 studies (1654 women, 665 cases), and included 15 in the meta-analyses. Ultrasound pooled sensitivity (n = 12, 1187 women) was 0.79 (95% CI 0.63-0.92) and specificity was 0.76 (95% CI 0.54-0.93), with negative and positive likelihood ratios of 0.29 (95% CI 0.13-0.66) and 4.35 (95% CI 2.03-9.32), respectively. Using Doppler with ultrasound (n = 7, 845 women) yielded similar sensitivity (0.80, 95% CI 0.67-0.93) and specificity (0.88, 95% CI 0.72-1.00). For MRI (n = 3, 99 women), the pooled sensitivity was 0.81 (95% CI 0.63-0.91) and specificity was 0.91 (95% CI 0.80-0.96). A meta-analysis for CT was not possible with two case-control studies and one cohort study (n = 3, 232 women). Its sensitivity range was 0.74-0.95 and specificity was 0.80-0.90. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound has good performance as a first-line diagnostic test for suspected AT. Magnetic resonance imaging could offer improved specificity to investigate complex ovarian morphology, but more evidence is needed. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: To investigate adnexal torsion, ultrasound is a good first-line diagnostic test with a pooled sensitivity of 0.79 and specificity of 0.76.

Ovarian volume ratio is a reliable predictor of ovarian torsion in girls without an adnexal mass.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to identify ultrasound-based predictors of ovarian torsion in girls without an adnexal mass and establish a set of normal values for ovarian volume ratio (OVR). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all premenarchal patients ≥3 years of age with a normal pelvic ultrasound between January 2016 and January 2019. A comparison group of premenarchal girls presenting between 2011 and 2019 with torsion in the absence of an adnexal mass was utilized. RESULTS: Five-hundred and four premenarchal girls underwent pelvic ultrasound evaluation with a normal examination. The mean OVR was 1.6 ±â€¯0.7 (range 1.0-6.5). OVR did not vary with age (r = -0.06) as compared to ovarian width which increased steadily with age (r = 0.53, p < 0.001). OVR was increased in girls with torsion (7.6 vs 1.4, p < 0.0001), and by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis a cutoff value of >2.5 demonstrated the best diagnostic accuracy of any predictive variable (sensitivity 100%, specificity 94%, AUC 0.991, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: OVR is an excellent predictor of ovarian torsion in premenarchal girls without an adnexal mass. Unlike ovarian width, OVR does not increase with age, and a cutoff OVR > 2.5 demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for identifying ovarian torsion in this population. TYPE OF STUDY: Study of diagnostic test. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Clinical and Computed Tomographic Features of Ovarian Lesions in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: A Series of 222 Cases.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and computed tomography (CT) characteristics of ovarian lesions in infants, children, and adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical and CT data was performed in 222 patients who were 20 years or younger with ovarian lesions. Patients' age, medical history, symptoms, tumor marker levels, and CT imaging findings were recorded. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Identification of the clinical and CT features of ovarian lesions in infants, children, and adolescents. RESULTS: A total of 136 patients had abdominal pain, and 73 patients had palpable abdominal mass. The ß-HCG was elevated in 4 and AFP was elevated in 16 of the 222 cases. A total of 235 lesions were found in 222 cases, including 75 non-neoplastic and 160 neoplastic lesions. Ovarian cyst exhibited homogeneous low density. The torsion of a normal-sized ovary demonstrated mild or no enhancement. The torsion associated with an ovarian mass demonstrated a thickened, hyperdense wall. Mature teratoma presented as a cystic mass, with bulk fat and coarse calcification. Immature teratoma appeared as a solid mass with foci of fat and fine calcification. Yolk sac tumor was shown as cystic-solid mass with intense enhancement of solid component. Wall and septation of benign epithelial tumors were relatively uniform in thickness; mural nodule was detected in borderline tumor; and malignant epithelial tumor was predominantly a solid mass with intense enhancement. CONCLUSION: Ovarian cyst is the most common non-neoplastic lesion. Torsion of a normal-sized ovary was the second most common non-neoplastic lesion, almost always causing abdominal pain. Germ cell tumor has the highest incidence among neoplastic lesions. Fat and calcification are highly specific for germ cell tumor. The elevation of AFP and HCG levels in serum indicates germ cell tumor. Ovarian epithelial tumor is usually large, benign, and predominantly cystic. The combination of clinical and imaging features is helpful for correct diagnosis.

Simplified two-step technique for transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our simplified two-step technique for transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) and to demonstrate the application of the technique. DESIGN: Step-by-step description of the technique and demonstration of its application using surgical video footage from two different cases. SETTING: Tertiary university hospital. PATIENT(S): Patient 1 was a 27-year-old G0P0 woman who presented with right lower quadrant pain. Transvaginal ultrasound scan revealed a right ovarian torsion. Patient 2 was a 25-year-old G3P2 woman. She presented with vaginal bleeding and left lower quadrant pain. Her serum ß-human chorionic gonadotropin level was 28,313 U/L, and transvaginal ultrasound scan revealed an ectopic pregnancy in the left tube. The decision to perform vNOTES was made for both patients. INTERVENTION(S): As the first step, patients underwent diagnostic vNOTES. The patient was placed in lithotomy position under general anesthesia. By use of a 5-mm trocar with autoretracting blade, a colpotomy was performed on the posterior vaginal wall. Pneumoperitoneum was achieved, and the patient was placed in a Trendelenburg position. A 5-mm 30° rigid endoscope was introduced, and the diagnosis was confirmed. After the confirmation of the diagnosis, we proceeded to the second step. The colpotomy was enlarged with blunt dissection by using Metzenbaum scissors. A self-constructed pessary port was placed through the colpotomy, and pneumoperitoneum was achieved. The therapeutic procedure was then performed. Patient 1 underwent ovarian detorsion with a 5-mm laparoscopic grasper. After the ovary was detorsioned, a 5-mm bipolar instrument was used to achieve hemostasis. Patient 2 underwent left salpingectomy with a 5-mm advanced bipolar device. Hemostasis was verified, and the specimen was extracted through the colpotomy. Procedures ended with the closure of colpotomy with running resorbable sutures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Description of the technique and demonstration of its applicability in two common gynecological emergencies. RESULT(S): Both patients were treated successfully by vNOTES. The operating times were 25 minutes and 38 minutes for patient 1 and patient 2, respectively. Patients were discharged on postoperative day 1 without any complications. CONCLUSION(S): Our simplified two-step technique described and demonstrated in this video article is a feasible and practical approach to perform vNOTES. The first step allows the confirmation of the diagnosis and facilitates the colpotomy. The use of the self-constructed pessary port enables to perform surgery with already existing equipment without the need for specialized equipment and without increasing the costs.

A case report of ovarian torsion following ovarian transposition for cervical cancer.

We describe a case report of ovarian torsion after ovarian transposition in a young woman with cervical cancer. Ovarian transposition is a well-established surgical procedure in young women undergoing hysterectomy for pelvic malignancies who may go on to receive radiation therapy. Transposing the ovaries further from the targeted field lowers the radiation dose to the exquisitely radiosensitive ovaries. Torsion is not a commonly acknowledged complication following ovarian transplantation; however, we feel that clinicians and radiologists should include torsion in their differential for women with flank or abdominal pain and a history of ovarian transposition.

Imaging in gynecological disease (20): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of adnexal torsion.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of adnexal torsion. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. From the operative records of the eight participating gynecological ultrasound centers, we identified patients with a surgically confirmed diagnosis of adnexal torsion, defined as surgical evidence of ovarian pedicle, paraovarian cyst and/or Fallopian tube twisted on its own axis, who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination by an experienced examiner, between 2008 and 2018. Only cases with at least two available ultrasound images and/or videoclips (one grayscale and one with Doppler evaluation) were included. Clinical, ultrasound, surgical and histological information was retrieved from each patient's medical record and entered into an Excel file by the principal investigator at each center. In addition, two authors reviewed all available ultrasound images and videoclips of the twisted adnexa, with regard to the presence of four predefined ultrasound features reported to be characteristic of adnexal torsion: (1) ovarian stromal edema with or without peripherally displaced antral follicles, (2) the follicular ring sign, (3) the whirlpool sign and (4) absence of vascularization in the twisted organ. RESULTS: A total of 315 cases of adnexal torsion were identified. The median age of the patients was 30 (range, 1-88) years. Most patients were premenopausal (284/314; 90.4%) and presented with acute or subacute pelvic pain (305/315; 96.8%). The surgical approach was laparoscopic in 239/312 (76.6%) patients and conservative surgery (untwisting with or without excision of a lesion) was performed in 149/315 (47.3%) cases. According to the original ultrasound reports, the median largest diameter of the twisted organ was 83 (range, 30-349) mm. Free fluid in the pouch of Douglas was detected in 196/275 (71.3%) patients. Ovarian stromal edema with or without peripherally displaced antral follicles was reported in the original ultrasound report in 167/241 (69.3%) patients, the whirlpool sign in 178/226 (78.8%) patients, absent color Doppler signals in the twisted organ in 119/269 (44.2%) patients and the follicular ring sign in 51/134 (38.1%) patients. On retrospective review of images and videoclips, ovarian stromal edema with or without peripherally displaced antral follicles (201/254; 79.1%) and the whirlpool sign (139/153; 90.8%) were the most commonly detected features of adnexal torsion. CONCLUSION: Most patients with surgically confirmed adnexal torsion are of reproductive age and present with acute or subacute pain. Common ultrasound signs are an enlarged adnexa, the whirlpool sign, ovarian stromal edema with or without peripherally displaced antral follicles and free fluid in the pelvis. The follicular ring sign and absence of Doppler signals in the twisted organ are slightly less common signs. Recognizing ultrasound signs of adnexal torsion is important so that the correct treatment, i.e. surgery without delay, can be offered. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ovarian torsion: developing a machine-learned algorithm for diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian torsion is a common concern in girls presenting to emergency care with pelvic or abdominal pain. The diagnosis is challenging to make accurately and quickly, relying on a combination of physical exam, history and radiologic evaluation. Failure to establish the diagnosis in a timely fashion can result in irreversible ovarian ischemia with implications for future fertility. Ultrasound is the mainstay of evaluation for ovarian torsion in the pediatric population. However, even with a high index of suspicion, imaging features are not pathognomonic. OBJECTIVE: We sought to develop an algorithm to aid radiologists in diagnosing ovarian torsion using machine learning from sonographic features and to evaluate the frequency of each sonographic element. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All pediatric patients treated for ovarian torsion at a quaternary pediatric hospital over an 11-year period were identified by both an internal radiology database and hospital-based International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) code review. Inclusion criteria were surgical confirmation of ovarian torsion and available imaging. Patients were excluded if the diagnosis could not be confirmed, no imaging was available for review, the ovary was not identified by imaging, or torsion involved other adnexal structures but spared the ovary. Data collection included: patient age; laterality of torsion; bilateral ovarian volumes; torsed ovarian position, i.e. whether medialized with respect to the mid-uterine line; presence or absence of Doppler signal within the torsed ovary; visualization of peripheral follicles; and presence of a mass or cyst, and free peritoneal fluid. Subsequently, we evaluated a non-torsed control cohort from April 2015 to May 2016. This cohort consisted of sequential girls and young adults presenting to the emergency department with abdominopelvic symptoms concerning for ovarian torsion but who were ultimately diagnosed otherwise. These features were then fed into supervised machine learning systems to identify and develop viable decision algorithms. We divided data into training and validation sets and assessed algorithm performance using sub-sets of the validation set. RESULTS: We identified 119 torsion-confirmed cases and 331 torsion-absent cases. Of the torsion-confirmed cases, significant imaging differences were evident for girls younger than 1 year; these girls were then excluded from analysis, and 99 pediatric patients older than 1 year were included in our study. Among these 99, all variables demonstrated statistically significant differences between the torsion-confirmed and torsion-absent groups with P-values <0.005. Using any single variable to identify torsion provided only modest detection performance, with areas under the curve (AUC) for medialization, peripheral follicles, and absence of Doppler flow of 0.76±0.16, 0.66±0.14 and 0.82±0.14, respectively. The best decision tree using a combination of variables yielded an AUC of 0.96±0.07 and required knowledge of the presence of intra-ovarian flow, peripheral follicles, the volume of both ovaries, and the presence of cysts or masses. CONCLUSION: Based on the largest series of pediatric ovarian torsion in the literature to date, we quantified sonographic features and used machine learning to create an algorithm to identify the presence of ovarian torsion - an algorithm that performs better than simple approaches relying on single features. Although complex combinations using multiple-interaction models provide slightly better performance, a clinically pragmatic decision tree can be employed to detect torsion, providing sensitivity levels of 95±14% and specificity of 92±2%.

Abdominal Pain in a Young Female Adolescent: Point-of-Care Ultrasound Added Value.

An adolescent female patient presented to the emergency department with diffuse, severe lower abdominal pain and vomiting. The initial suspected diagnosis was appendicitis. Point-of-care ultrasound did not visualize the appendix but demonstrated a suspected left ovarian torsion, which was confirmed by radiology-performed ultrasound. The clinical presentation, in combination with images obtained via point-of-care ultrasound, helped to expedite gynecology consultation and immediate surgery.

Gestação heterotópica associada a torção de anexo contralateral em gestação não planejada / Heterotopic management associated with the torment of contralateral apparatus in unplugged management

A gestação heterotópica se define como uma gravidez intra e uma extraútero, nesse caso, a gravidez que se encontra extraútero, em tuba uterina. Foi descoberta após a paciente apresentar dor abdominal, ainda não relatando atraso menstrual e sem a paciente apresentar desejo de engravidar. O diagnóstico foi feito por meio do exame de ultrassonografia com a visualização de massa anexial íntegra à esquerda. A torção de ovário, que é definida pela rotação parcial ou total do pedículo vascular ovariano, causando estase circulatória que pode causar progressivamente edema e gangrena e progredir para necrose, causando danos irreversíveis aos ovários, também foi descoberta por meio do exame de ultrassom e dos sintomas da paciente. A clínica apresentou-se por abdome agudo. No intraoperatório, foi feito o diagnóstico de gestação heterotópica e também apresentou torção de ovário contralateral, caso esse sobre o qual, em conjunto, não há relatos na literatura.(AU)

Heterotopic gestation is defined as an intrauterine pregnancy and an extrauterine pregnancy, in this case the extrauterine pregnancy in the uterine tube. It was discovered after the patient presented abdominal pain, still not reporting menstrual delay and without the patient presenting desire to become pregnant. The diagnosis was made through the ultrasound examination with the visualization of complete adnexal mass on the left. Ovarian torsion, which is defined by partial or total rotation of the ovarian vascular pedicle, causing a circulatory stasis that can progressively cause edema, gangrene and progress to necrosis, causing irreversible damage to the ovaries, was also discovered by ultrasound examination and of the patient's symptoms. The clinic presented with an acute abdomen. n the intraoperative period, the diagnosis of heterotopic gestation was made and also presented contralateral ovary torsion, in which case, there are no reports in the literature.(AU)

Masas anexiales y embarazo: un desafío para el ultrasonografista / Adnexal masses and pregnancy: a challenge for the ultrasonographer

Se presentan 5 casos de embarazadas con masas anexiales complejas diagnosticadas entre las 5 y 34 semanas de gestación. Una de ellas tuvo indicación quirúrgica por abdomen agudo secundario a torsión anexial izquierda y cuatro, por sospecha de malignidad, que se confirmó en un caso. Dos pacientes tenían patología anexial benigna y la otra, una pseudo masa secundaria a un proceso inflamatorio pelviano crónico.

Five pregnant patients, with complex adnexal masses diagnosed between 5 and 34 weeks of gestation, are presented. One of them had surgical indication due to an acute abdominal pain, secondary to the torsion of the adnexal mass; and the other four, because of suspected malignancy, which was confirmed in one. Two patients had benign adnexal masses, and the other a pseudo cyst secondary to a cronic inflamatoty pelvic process.