Case Reports in Surgery

Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 615734, 7 pages

doi:10.1155/2012/615734

Case Report

The First Report of an Intraperitoneal Free-Floating Mass (an Autoamputated Ovary) Causing an Acute Abdomen in a Child

Ibrahim Uygun, Bahattin Aydogdu, Mehmet Hanifi Okur, and Selcuk Otcu

Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, Medical Faculty of Dicle University, 21280 Diyarbakir, Turkey

Received 28 July 2012; Accepted 18 September 2012

Academic Editors: M. Gorlitzer and R. Mofidi

Copyright © 2012 Ibrahim Uygun et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

A free-floating intraperitoneal mass is extremely rare, and almost all originate from an ovary. Here, we present the first case with an intraperitoneal free-floating autoamputated ovary that caused an acute abdomen in a child and also review the literature. A 4-year-old girl was admitted with signs and symptoms of acute abdomen. At surgery, the patient had no right ovary and the right tube ended in a thin band that pressed on the terminal ileum causing partial small intestine obstruction and acute abdomen. A calcified mass was found floating in the abdomen and was removed. The pathological examination showed necrotic tissue debris with calcifications. An autoamputated ovary is thought to result from ovarian torsion and is usually detected incidentally. However, it can cause an acute abdomen.

1. Introduction

An autoamputated ovary (AO) is a very rare cause of an intraabdominal mass [1–25]. The primary pathological event of an AO is torsion of a normal ovary or an ovarian cyst and the adnexa, followed by infarction and necrosis [17, 21, 26, 27]. Typically, the AO is found incidentally while investigating an unrelated disease, on antenatal ultrasonography, or at surgery [1–25].

Here, we present a patient who underwent surgery for an acute abdomen and was observed to have a free-floating AO in the abdominal cavity. We also review the occurrence of this extremely rare free-floating mass in children and discuss its diagnosis and management.

2. Case Presentation

A 4-year-old girl was admitted with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. On physical examination, the right lower abdominal quadrant was tender. Abdominal guarding and rebound were detected. The abdominal plain X-ray was normal. Emergency ultrasonography (US) showed minimal free fluid. The patient underwent surgery for an acute abdomen. At surgery, a 28 mm diameter, brown, soft, calcified mass was found floating in the right lower abdomen (Figure 1). The patient had no right ovary and the right tube ended in a thin band that extended to the cecum and pressed on the terminal ileum causing partial small intestine obstruction and acute abdomen (Figure 2). The appendix was hyperemic. The free-floating mass was removed from the abdomen, the right fallopian tube and band were excised, and an appendectomy was performed. The patient was discharged on the second postoperative day. The pathological examination showed long standing necrotic tissue debris with calcifications. The 6-year follow up showed no problems.

Figure 1: The right tube (RT) ended in a thin band (arrow) attached to the cecum and pressed on the terminal ileum. The patient had no right ovary. The left ovary (LO) and tube (LT) and uterus (U) were normal.

Figure 2: The brown, soft, calcified free-floating autoamputated right ovary (right) and the excised right tube ending with a thin band (left).

3. Discussion

A free-floating intraperitoneal mass is extremely rare, and almost all originate from an ovary. To date, there have been only two cases in the literature that originated from other organs [28, 29]; one such mass in a geriatric woman was from the gallbladder, due to torsion, and caused acute abdomen, while the other was from appendix epiploica, due to torsion, in a man [28, 29]. A free-floating intraperitoneal AO in a child was first reported by Lester and McAlister in 1970 [1]. Our case is the first report of an intraperitoneal free-floating mass causing an acute abdomen in a child.

There have been only 36 reported cases of intraperitoneal free-floating AO involving children ranging in age from 1 day to 12 years of age, including our case (Table 1) [1–25]. Twenty-five cases were younger than 1 year of age. Although 23 of these infants were diagnosed with a cystic abdominal mass, ranging in diameter from 2.2 to 8 cm on antenatal US, only 12 of the newborns were operated on during the neonatal period.

Table 1: Cases of autoamputated free-floating ovaries in children.

No.
Reference
Age
Clinical and imaging features
Size (cm)
Side
Surgical finding
Treatment
Pathology

1
[1]
12 y
Abdominal pain, no PM, PXR, mobile pelvic calcified mass
3.0 × 2.2
R
Absent RO and partial RFT, calcified FFM
LT
Solid NT with calcification

2
[2]
3 y
Incidental calcification on IVU for UTI, asymptomatic, no PM, PXR, mobile pelvic calcified mass
UK
R
UK
UK
UK

3
[2]
4 y
Incidental calcification on hip X-ray for lower extremity pain, asymptomatic, no PM, PXR, mobile pelvic calcified mass
UK
L
UK
UK
UK

4
[3]
17 m
Mobile fluctuant nontender mass on a routine PE, history of colic pain, PM, PXR, calcified mass, IVU, normal
5.0
R
Absent RO and RFT, cystic greenish-brown FFM attached to the omentum
LT
NT, fibrosis, hemorrhage, calcification, no VOT

5
[3]
5 m
Soft nontender mass on a routine PE, asymptomatic, PM, PXR, irregular calcification in the lower abdomen, IVU, normal
4.0 × 3.0
R
Absent RO, rudimentary RFT, cystic FFM attached to the omentum
LT
Calcified fibrous NT

6
[3]
9 y
Incidental calcification in PXR for undetermined reason, asymptomatic, no PM, PXR, calcification, IVU, normal
3.0 × 2.3
R
Absent RO, calcified FFM, normal fallopian tubes and LO
LT
NT with calcification, no VOT

7
[3]
2 w
Mobile nontender mass on a routine PE, asymptomatic, PM, IVU and barium enema, normal
3.0 × 1.5
R
Absent RO and RFT, cystic FFM attached to the retroperitoneum and ascending colon
LT
Ovarian stroma and follicles, calcified NT, fibrous wall

8
[4]
3 m
CM in AUS at 38-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, mobile CM
4.0
R
Absent RO, atretic RFT, cystic FFM
LT
NT, fibrotic walls, no VOT

9
[5]
4 d
CM in AUS at 38-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, lower abdominal fullness, PXR, noncalcified mass, US, CM
8.0
R
Absent RO, hemorrhagic cystic FFM
LT
NT

10
[6]
2 y
Incidental bilateral pelvic calcification in IVU for recurrent UTI, asymptomatic, no PM, US and CT, bilateral pelvic calcifications
3.5 × 2.5

2.5 × 2.0
BL
Two FFMs in the cul-de-sac, absent ovaries, normal uterus, and fallopian tubes
LT
Extensive NT and calcification

11
[7]
2 y
Recurrent abdominal pain, PM, abdominal tenderness, PXR, soft tissue mass with calcification, US, CM with solid component
6.5
R
Absent RO and RFT, cystic FFM attached through a long pedicle to mesentery of colon
LT
Unilocular cyst filled with thick fluid with calcified mural nodule

12
[7]
14 m
Right lower quadrant mass on PE for abdominal pain, PM, PXR, calcified mass, US, CM with a solid mural nodule
5.0 × 4.0
R
Absent RO and RFT, cystic FFM attached to liver through twisted pedicle of omentum
LT
CM, shaggy tan-pink interior with gritty mural nodule

13
[8]
2 w
CM in AUS at 26-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, CM in the right upper quadrant, fluid-fluid level
6.0 × 6.0
R
Absent RO, cystic FFM
LT
Aseptic necrosis of ovary with pseudocyst formation

14
[9]
5 m
CM in AUS at 30-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, complex ovarian cyst with calcification
6.5
UK
Autoamputated cystic ovarian FFM
LT
UK

15
[9]
7 m
CM in AUS at 34-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, complex ovarian cyst with fluid debris level
3.0
UK
Autoamputated cystic ovarian FFM
LT
UK

16
[10]
8 y
Incidental calcification on a PXR obtained for UTI, asymptomatic, no PM, PXR, CT and VCUG, calcification adjacent to the pubic bone
3.0 × 3.0
R
Absent RO, calcified FFM
LT
Necrotic partially calcified mass, no VOT

17
[11]
11 m
CM in AUS at 34-GW, asymptomatic, freely mobile PM, US, ovarian cyst with fluid/debris level
4.0
R
Absent RO and RFT, cystic FFM
LT
NT, no VOT

18
[12]
6 y
Incidental calcified mass on a PXR obtained for coin ingestion, asymptomatic, no PM, US, absent LO, CT, mobile calcified pelvic mass
2.2 × 1.7
L
Absent LO and LFT, calcified FFM
LS
Amorphous calcified tissue, no VOT

19
[13]
5 m*
CM in AUS at 38-GW, asymptomatic, mobile PM, US, right-sided cystic pelvic mass with echogenic finding
4.2 × 3.7
L
Atretic LFT covered with peritoneum, cystic FFM
LS
Extensive NT and autolysis with calcification

20
[14]
Neonate
UK
UK
UL
Autoamputated cystic ovarian FFM
LS
UK

21
[15]
6 w
CM in AUS, asymptomatic, no PM, US, hemorrhagic RO cyst
4.0 × 3.0
R
Absent RO and RFT, cystic FFM attached to the omentum
LS
Hemorrhagic infarction with calcification

22
[16]
5 m
Two CM in AUS at 17-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, two CM with septations
3.5 × 2.5

3.8 × 1.8
BL
No ovaries, two cystic FFMs, normal uterus and fallopian tubes
LT
Hemorrhagic ovaries with calcification

23
[17]
Infant
Asymptomatic, no PM, US, CM
UK
UL
Cystic FFM
LS
No VOT

24
[18]
3 m
CM in AUS at 27-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, ovarian cyst with fluid debris level
5.0
UK
Cystic FFM
LT
Ovarian NT, hemorrhage, calcification

25
[19]
4 w*
CM in AUS at 32-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, CM in the right side
4.5
L
Absent LO and LFT, hemorrhagic cystic FFM adhered loosely to peritoneum
LS
No VOT, hemorrhagic NT

26
[20]
3 m
CM in AUS at 24-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, pelvic CM
4.0 × 3.5
UK
Autoamputated cystic ovarian FFM
LT
Cystic ovary with NT

27
[21]
3 w
CM in AUS at 30-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US and CT, CM with calcification, MR, hemorrhagic mass
3.2 × 2.0
R
Absent RO and RFT, cystic FFM
LT
NT, hemorrhage, autolysis with calcification, no VOT

28
[22]
2 d
CM in AUS at 32-GW, asymptomatic, mobile PM, US, a free-floating CM without blood support with fluid/debris level
6.0 × 5.2
L
Cystic FFM
LS
NT, no VOT

29
[22]
2 d
CM in AUS at 34-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, a free-floating CM on the right without blood support
5.0 × 4.5
L
Absent LO and LFT, autoamputated cystic ovarian FFM in the right abdomen
LS
Hemorrhagic infarction with calcification

30
[23]
1 d
CM in AUS at 37-GW, PM in right lower quadrant, US and CT, complex CM with calcification in the right lower quadrant
6.0 × 6.0
L
Absent LO and LFT, cystic FFM attached to the omentum in the right lower quadrant
LT
Hemorrhagic infarction with calcification

31
[24]
3 d
CM in AUS after 30-GW, abdominal distention, intestinal obstruction, respiratory distress syndrome, US, complex CM
8.0
R
Autoamputated RO fixed to mesentery and terminal ileum leading to ischemia for 15 mm
LT
Hemorrhagic infarction with calcification, no VOT

32
[24]
10 m
CM in AUS after 30-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, complex CM
4.0
L
Autoamputated LO in retrovesical area
LT
Hemorrhagic infarction with calcification, no VOT

33
[24]
3 m
CM in AUS after 30-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, complex CM
5.5
L
Autoamputated LO connected with right adnexa
LT
Hemorrhagic infarction with calcification, no VOT

34
[24]
17 d
CM in AUS after 30-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US, complex CM
2.9
L
Autoamputated LO connected to cecum with adhesions
LS
Hemorrhagic infarction with calcification, no VOT

35
[25]
4 d*
CM in AUS at 28-GW, asymptomatic, no PM, US and MR, right side CM
4.0 × 3.5
L
Absent LO, autoamputated FFM in the right side abdomen
LS
NT with small amount VOT

36
Uygun et al. (Present Case) 2012
4 y
Acute abdomen, intestinal obstruction and recurrent abdominal pain symptoms (tenderness, vomiting), US, free fluid, PXR, normal
2.8
R
Absent RO and RFT ending with band on cecum and pressuring ileum, calcified FFM
LT
NT with calcification

AUS: antenatal ultrasonography, CM: cystic mass, PE: physical examination, IVU: intravenous urography, PXR: plain X-ray, UTI: urinary tract infection, VCUG: voiding cystourethrography, FFM: free-floating mass, R: right, L: left, BL: bilateral, UL: unilateral, UK: unknown, LT: laparotomy, LS: laparoscopy, LO: left ovary, RO: right ovary, RFT: right fallopian tube, LFT: left fallopian tube, NT: necrotic tissue, VOT: viable ovarian tissue, MRI: magnetic resonance imaging, CT: computed tomography, US: ultrasonography, PM: palpable mass, GW: gestational age, d: days, w: weeks, m: months, y: years.

*Preoperative diagnosis of autoamputated ovary.

Six cases were symptomatic, including our case. One of the newborns had abdominal distention, intestinal obstruction, and respiratory distress syndrome due to an 8 cm diameter cyst [24]. Four children, ages 14 and 17 months, 2 years, and 12 years, had a history of abdominal pain without an acute abdomen and were diagnosed during routine physical examinations [1, 3, 7]. Only our 4-year-old patient developed an acute abdomen, with signs and symptoms that included tenderness in the right abdominal quadrant, nausea, and vomiting.

Nine of the masses could be palpated on physical examination. Only three cases were diagnosed as an AO preoperatively. Characteristically, an AO is seen as a free-floating intraabdominal mass on antenatal US [13, 19, 25]. Eight cases were diagnosed incidentally. Two had no abdominal pain but were diagnosed based on palpating an abdominal mass during a routine physical examination [3]. The other six patients were diagnosed with a calcified mass seen on plain X-rays obtained for an unrelated reason [2, 3, 6, 10, 12]. The AO was the right ovary in 17 cases, the left in 11, bilateral in two, and unknown in six cases.

Ultrasonography is safe and sufficient for diagnosing most ovarian cysts and AO. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be performed if the mass is complex [22]. In our case, emergency US showed minimal free fluid, but no AO, perhaps because our patient had an intestinal obstruction and a dilated intestine with intraluminal gas. A plain X-ray may also be sufficient, especially with a calcified AO [1–3, 5, 7, 10]. In the literature, 25 of 36 cases of AO were diagnosed prenatally with antenatal US. We believe that this is because antenatal US is performed very commonly worldwide.

Pathologically, necrosis was seen in all cases, and 20 had calcifications. Small amounts of ovarian tissue were seen in seven specimens [3, 7, 18, 20, 23, 25]. In four of these cases, the AO was attached to the retroperitoneum and ascending colon by vessels [3], the omentum [23], the mesentery of the transverse colon via a long pedicle [7], or to the liver via a hemorrhagic twisted pedicle of omentum [7]. None contained malignant tissue. In adults, Ushakov et al. reported a remarkable characteristic of AO: an AO teratoma became reimplanted as an omental mass in 22 cases of teratoma of the omentum that they reviewed [26]. This adult review and our review of children suggest that an AO may reimplant, develop into omentum or peritoneum, and possibly undergo malignant transformation. Therefore, we suggest that all AOs should be excised instead of taking a wait and see approach.

An AO is very rare and thought to result from ovarian torsion. Most free-floating AOs are detected incidentally. However, clinicians should remember that it can cause an acute abdomen, and should always make sure there are two ovaries on US in a small child with acute abdomen.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

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