Peritoneal Cysts and Ovary: A Potential Anatomic Dead Spaces for Ovarian Entrapment

Abstract

Many names have been used across the medical literature for peritoenal cysts. Pelvic peritoenal cysts may occur mostly after surgery or any pelvic pathology. History of surgery seems the main cause that traumatized surfaces, especially peritoneal edges and exposed retroperitoneal tissue become adhesive and can lead to the formation of new pouches. The occurrence of pelvic peritoneal cysts is rare but almost all affected patients are premenopausal women. It brings to mind that functioning ovaries are related to pelvic peritoneal cyst. On the other hand, peritoenal cysts are mostly located on left side of pelvis. The pelvic space is separated into right and left hemi-spaces in midline by their border with recto-sigmoid and uterus or in cases with a previous hysterectomy, with vaginal cuff and bladder. These spaces create potential anatomic dead spaces for peritoneal cyst housed an ovary. The role of the pelvic dead spaces and their surrounding anatomic structures has never been questioned before why peritoenal cysts mostly prefer to develop on left side of pelvis. Nowadays, as the functioning ovaries are left during hysterectomies and visceral peritoneum left unclosed, pelvic peritoneal cysts may occur more frequently in the future than that of in the past. We would like to share our comments on the subject in this new era.

Keywords: Hysterectomy; peritoneal cyst; ovarian cyst

Special Issue of Health Sciences

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-03-27