Survey of Persistent Ovarian Cysts Refered to Ahvaz Imam Khomaini Hospital

In this research, we studied prevalence, type, size and behavior of persistent ovarian cysts. Subjects and We studied women with persistent ovarian cysts referred to Imam Khomaini hospital in Ahvaz- Iran in 2006-2007. Important factors in this study were patient's age, pathological diagnosis, type and size of cysts. A total of 112 patients were divided into 3 age groups: Less than 20 years, between 20-40 years and more than 40 years old. Cysts were divided into 3 groups according to their size: Less than 5 cm, 5-9 cm and more than 9 cm. Data were analyzed with SPSS 13. 93% were benign and 7%were malignant.11.6% of patient had less than 20 years old, 67.5% 20-40 and 20.6% more than 40 years old. Functional and adenoma were the most common in less than 20 years, functional, dermoid and adenoma were most common in 20 -40 years, and functional were the most in more than 40 years. 39.2% of cysts were less than 5 cm and all of them were benign. 40.1% of cysts were 5-9 cm (84.4% were benign and 15.6 % were malignant). 20.4% of cysts had more than 9cm (93% were benign and 7% were malignant). 92% of persistent ovarian cysts were benign, thus we can follow conservatively with sonography and tumor markers and invasive approach is not necessary for all patients