Laparoscopic management of a giant ovarian mucinous cystadenoma in a low-income African country: a case report

Abstract

Background Ovarian mucinous cystadenoma represents 15–20% of all epithelial tumors of the ovary. They have good prognoses. Giant ovarian mucinous cystadenoma is rarely reported in developed countries because of the availability of advanced imaging technologies that lead to early diagnosis and treatment. In African countries, late medical consultation and limited resources lead to late diagnosis, with the discovery of giant ovarian cysts. Only a few cases of laparoscopic management of massive ovarian cysts have been reported in the medical literature. Case presentation: We present the case of a 64-year-old black African patient who complained of progressive abdominal distension for 2 years with intestinal transit disorders. An enhanced abdominopelvic CT scan revealed a giant ovarian cyst occupying the entire abdominopelvic cavity, which was approximately 55 cm wide. We performed a laparoscopic right salpingo-oophorectomy after aspirating the cyst without spilling its contents into the peritoneal cavity. The postoperative recovery of the patient was uneventful and she was discharged on the second postoperative day. Conclusion In low-income context, giant ovarian mucinous cystadenoma can be managed laparoscopically in safe conditions without spillage of its contents into the peritoneal cavity.