Ovarian Cysts & Tumors

Ovarian cysts and tumors can be common in developing fetuses and newborns. In many cases, these cysts dissolve on their own. Ovarian cysts or tumors are much less common in children and adolescents.

When ovarian cysts and masses become large, they may cause pain and discomfort, but many girls with ovarian disorders do not experience symptoms. Often, an ovarian mass is discovered during a procedure such as a computed tomography (CT) scan for some other condition.

The most common symptom of ovarian cysts and tumors is pain. Other symptoms include:

Chronic or sudden pain in the lower abdomen
Feeling of pressure in the abdomen
Frequent urination
Bleeding
Nausea
Vomiting

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sack. There are different types of ovarian cysts:

Functional cysts. Functional cysts are the most common type of ovarian cyst. In adolescence, they form during ovulation and usually go away on their own. There are two kinds of functional cysts:
- Follicular cysts. This cyst forms when the follicle does not break open and release an egg during ovulation.
- Corpus luteum cysts. After an egg is released, the follicle closes up, trapping fluid inside.
Cystadenomas. These are tumors that form a fluid-filled cyst in the ovary.
Dermoid cysts. These are growths in the ovary that are a mixture of cysts and solid tissue.

An ovarian tumor is a mass or lump of cells in the ovary that can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous.) There are three kinds of ovarian tumors:

Germ cell tumors. These are the most common ovarian tumors in childhood and adolescence. They may be benign or malignant.
Stromal tumors. These are uncommon tumors that may be benign or malignant.
Epithelial cell tumors. These are rare in childhood and adolescence but are the most common type of ovarian tumor in adult women. They develop from the cells on the ovary’s surface.

Advances in techniques used to diagnose ovarian disorders make it possible in many cases to treat cysts and tumors while preserving the ovaries. In about 20 percent of diagnoses, the ovarian disorder is cancerous, and the ovary or ovaries are removed.

Diagnosis of Ovarian Cysts & Tumors

Doctors at Riley at IU Health diagnose ovarian cysts and tumors using the following exams and tests:

Ultrasound. This is a painless test that uses sound waves to create images of internal organs and their tissues, which helps a surgeon see the cyst or tumor.
CT scan. A CT scan makes cross-section pictures of parts of the body by combining multiple X-rays into one image. This also helps a surgeon see the tumor or cyst and other tissues surrounding it.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The surgeon may use MRI to visualize the cyst or tumor. Unlike a CT scan, MRI does not use ionizing radiation.
Blood tests. A blood sample is studied to identify products in the blood that are produced by the tumor.

Treatments

Treatment options for ovarian disorders range from frequent follow-ups to monitor the disorder to surgical removal. Options include:

Monitoring. If your child is not experiencing pain and a follicular or corpus luteum cyst is not causing functional problems, the doctor may decide to monitor the ovary and watch for any changes.
Surgery. An ovarian cyst or tumor may need to be surgically treated or removed. Sometimes, the entire ovary must be removed. When cancer is present, surgery may be performed in conjunction with chemotherapy. Surgeons at Riley at IU Health use different types of surgery to treat ovarian disorders. Emergency surgery is used if an ovarian mass must be treated right away. For example, a twisted ovary can cut off blood supply to the ovary and damage the organ. When symptoms are not immediately pressing, a scheduled procedure can treat or remove a cyst or lump of the ovary. A variety of surgical procedures are used to treat ovarian cysts and tumors such as:
- Drainage. If a cyst is large, the pediatric surgeon can drain the mass to prevent twisting.
- Untwisting. If a mass has twisted the ovary, a pediatric surgeon can return the ovary to the correct position.
- Excision. A cyst or lump can be surgically removed from the ovary while leaving the ovary in place.
- Ovary removal. When a cyst or tumor covers a large part of the ovary, or when cancer is present, the entire ovary may need to be removed.
Chemotherapy. If the ovarian tumor is cancerous, chemotherapy medicines may be used to shrink the tumor and destroy cancer cells.

Key Points to Remember

Ovarian cysts and tumors can be common in developing fetuses and newborns.
The most common type of ovarian cyst is a functional cyst. Many times these dissolve on their own.
There are three kinds of ovarian tumors: germ cell tumors, stromal tumors and epithelial cell tumors. Ovarian tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous.
Treatments for ovarian disorders include monitoring the mass, surgery, ovary removal and, in cases of cancer, chemotherapy.

Support Services & Resources

Visit the links below to find support groups and services and learn more about ovarian cysts and tumors.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

Children's Oncology Group

This national organization provides information for families and supports research on childhood cancers, including ovary preservation.

National Cancer Institute

This website provides the most up-to-date information about ovarian disorders and many other childhood cancers.