Similar but different: A comparison of adnexal torsion in pediatric, adolescent, and pregnant and reproductive-age women

Background: We sought to investigate and compare the clinical presentation, ultrasound findings, surgical characteristics, and causes of adnexal torsion among three groups: pediatric and adolescent population, reproductive-age women, and pregnant women. Material and Methods: Two hundred twenty-seven surgically confirmed episodes of adnexal torsion in 199 patients treated in our department from January 2008 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Abdominal pain duration of >24 hours before emergency room presentation was more common in pediatric and adolescent patients compared with reproductive-age and pregnant women (42.3% vs. 28.4% and 15.5%, respectively, p = 0.04). However, there was no difference between the groups in the time interval from their emergency room admission to surgery. Torsion of "normal adnexa" occurred in 11/44 (25.0%) of pediatric and adolescent patients, 30/99 (30.3%) of reproductive-age patients, and 12/56 (21.4%) of pregnant patients, while torsion involving multicystic ovaries occurred in 0%, 4%, and 32.1%, respectively, torsion involving paraovarian cysts occurred in 20.5%, 14.1%, and 1.8%, respectively, and torsion involving benign dermoid cysts occurred in 4.5%, 15.2%, and 5.4%, respectively (p < 0.001). Torsion involving supposedly functional ovarian cysts occurred in 45.5%, 34.3%, and 69.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). The torsion recurrence rates were 18.2% in the pediatric subjects, 19.2% in reproductive-age women, and 10.7% in pregnant women (p = 0.3). Conclusions: The presentation of adnexal torsion is similar in pediatric and reproductive-age and pregnant women, although the underlying adnexal pathology may be different. Functional ovarian cysts cause the majority of torsion cases in pregnant women. Recurrence of torsion may occur in any age group.