Experience with Pelvic Masses following Hysterectomy for Benign Diseases

This observational analytic study was carried out in gynae unit II, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore from January 2001 – Dec 2003 to evaluate nature, clinical presentation and treatment of pelvic masses which appear after hysterectomy. The ages of patients ranged from 30-65 years. In a total of 43 cases, 34 (79.1%) patients were operated abdominally and 9 (20.9%) patients underwent vaginal hysterectomy at least 1 year ago. Nine (20.9%) patients had lost operation record so ovarian conservation or removal could not be ascertained. According to sonographic appearance 24 (55.8%) patients had simple unilocular cyst, 8 (18.6%) had complex mass and 11 (25.6%) presented with solid mass. Eleven (22.58%) patients were managed conservatively with spontaneous resolution. Twelve (27.9%) patients were treated with USS guided aspiration. Nineteen (44.18) patients with complex and solid masses were managed surgically. Masses were benign/malignant ovarian tumours, hydrosalpinx, fluid loculation with bowel, retroperitoneal tumours and broad ligament cyst. Among these 19 patients two sustained small bowel injury intraoperatively. Postoperative complications of wound included infection in two and deep vain thrombosis in one patient.