ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY FOR MATURE TERATOMA OF THE OVARY

Background: This study was undertaken to assess the value of laparosco pic surgery as treatment for benign mature teratomas of the ovary. Met hods: A total of 70 patients treated exclusively with laparoscopic sur gery for ovarian mature teratoma were studied. The tumors were either enucleated with preservation of the ovary or removed by salpingo-oopho rectomy. Results: Ovary-preserving surgery was performed in 60 cases; salpingo-oophorectomy was accomplished in 10 cases. All tumors removed were histologically benign. No surgical complications were encountere d throughout the series. In eight patients who underwent primary ovary -preserving surgery, a second-look laparoscopy was undertaken with vir tually no pathological findings noted. Conclusions: Our findings confi rm those of other authors-when performed by experienced surgeons, lapa roscopic removal of ovarian mature teratomas is a safe and recommendab le alternative to laparotomy. Preoperative diagnosis and intraoperativ e inspection of the tumor must be as thorough as possible.