Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: I was diagnosed with endometriosis three years ago, which later developed into chocolate cysts in the ovaries. Last year, I underwent surgery to remove my right ovary. However, in May of this year, a chocolate cyst was discovered in my left ovary, with a diameter of 8.0 cm. I would like to ask the expert how to treat it. Is it possible to avoid surgery and opt for conservative treatment?Doctor's answer:
Ovarian cysts are a common gynecological condition, typically treated with observation therapy or surgical intervention. Surgical treatment is invasive, but if one ovary is removed, it may affect a woman's endocrine status, potentially leading to menstrual disorders, infertility, and premature ovarian failure. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Xijing Hospital first introduces the methods, advantages, and disadvantages of ultrasound-guided interventional treatment for ovarian cysts to patients and their families before the procedure, obtaining their consent and cooperation.Interventional treatment is usually performed after menstruation has ended. Under vaginal ultrasound guidance, the ovarian cyst is punctured, and the fluid within is aspirated. Absolute ethanol is then injected into the cyst cavity, while the aspirated fluid is simultaneously tested. Since 1999, this method has been used to treat 160 patients, all of whom underwent successful punctures with an average interventional treatment time of 13 minutes. In 148 cases, the cyst fluid was completely aspirated, while in 12 cases, some residual fluid remained, but its volume was less than half of the original. Follow-up for one year showed a recurrence rate of 13.9%, with chocolate cysts being the most common type of recurrence, all occurring within six months of treatment. No tumor cells were found in the cyst fluid during testing.
According to experts, ultrasound-guided interventional treatment for simple ovarian cysts is a simple, safe, and effective method with minimal side effects and a low recurrence rate, making it particularly suitable for young, childless women. However, this method is less suitable for chocolate cysts of the ovary.