2010 Volume 26 Issue 2 Pages 503-506
Objective: We conducted postoperative follow-up of patients with bilateral ovarian chocolate cysts, focusing on rates of recurrence, potential to conceive, and degree of ovarian reserve.
Methods: A total of 128 patients diagnosed with bilateral ovarian chocolate cysts were studied during a 9-year period. Any patient seen postoperatively for six months or more was included in the study. Of this cohort, 21 underwent bilateral cystectomy, while bilateral fenestration and coagulation was performed for the remainder (n=107).
Results: The recurrence rate was 4.7% (6/128), with all instances of recurrence limited to the bilateral fenestration and coagulation technique The mean period from surgery to recurrence was 12.5 months (range, 10-31 months). The recurrence rate by surgical procedure was 0% (0/21) for bilateral cystectomy and 5.6% (6/107) for bilateral fenestration and coagulation. Seventeen of 40 (42.5%) patients became pregnant in the study time frame (12 spontaneous cycles, 3 clomiphene cycles, and 2 IVF-ET cycles). We also selectively examined subjects under the age of 40 years (115/128) whose menstrual cycles had been normal prior to surgery. The rate of postoperative menstrual disorders was 22.2% (4/18 cases) for bilateral cystectomy and 4.1% (4/97 cases) for bilateral fenestration and coagulation (p=0.0055).
Discussion: Laparoscopic fenestration and coagulation, rather than cystectomy, may be a preferable treatment for bilateral chocolate ovarian cysts in terms of preserving fertility and ovarian reserve.
