Best practice in management of paediatric and adolescent hydrosalpinges: a systematic review

A rare case of pyosalpinx in adolescent girl with Hirschsprung's disease who underwent transvaginal ultrasound-guided drainage

BACKGROUND

Hydrosalpinx and pyosalpinx are rare gynecologic problems during adolescence, especially in girls without a history of sexual activity. They are even rarer in women with Hirschsprung's disease (HD). We herein report a case of pyosalpinx in an adolescent girl with HD treated by transvaginal ultrasound-guided drainage.

CASE PRESENTATION

The present patient was a 12-year-old girl (weight 83 kg; height 159 cm; body mass index 32.8 kg/m²). She had undergone five laparotomies for long-segment HD by 2 years. Her menarche had occurred at 10 years. She was admitted with lower abdominal and anal pain. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and transvaginal ultrasound showed left pyosalpinx and abdominal abscess. Surgical drainage was necessary; however, she had a history of polysurgery and was severely obese, so laparotomy was considered to carry a high risk. Transvaginal ultrasound was deemed more likely to reach the abscess safely. Therefore, she was treated with transvaginal ultrasound-guided drainage by a gynecologist skilled in the procedure. She was discharged home after 52 days. One year and nine months after discharge, there was no reformation of either the abscess or pyosalpinx.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent girls with HD are at risk of developing hydrosalpinx. Depending on the defecation status, pyosalpinx may also develop. As a less-invasive surgical treatment, transvaginal ultrasound-guided drainage can avoid laparotomy. Collaboration with a gynecologist is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of this clinical condition. Pediatric surgeons should communicate with gynecologists for such cases beginning around puberty for continuous follow-up.

Hydrosalpinx in a premenarcheal 14-year-old girl with the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the isthmus of the fallopian tube: A case report

Hydrosalpinx is rare in childhood, and its pathogenesis may differ from that in reproductive-aged women. Herein, we report a case of hydrosalpinx in a premenarcheal 14-year-old girl, which might be caused by thickening of the smooth muscle of the fallopian tube. The patient had recurrent right lower abdominal pain and was referred to our hospital with a suspected adnexal tumor. Laparoscopy revealed a hydrosalpinx with complete obstruction of the fimbria and scar-like stenosis of the proximal ampulla. Right salpingectomy was performed because of a severe hydrosalpinx. As the patient was a virgin and a vaginal culture showed normal flora, ascending infection to the fallopian tube was not considered to be the cause of the hydrosalpinx. Histopathological examination revealed that the resected fallopian tube had a markedly dilated lumen with no inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunohistochemically, estrogen- and progesterone-positive smooth muscle proliferation was found at the isthmus of the fallopian tube.

Isolated torsion of a fallopian tube: an uncommon cause of abdominal pain in an 11-year-old

This report describes a rare case of isolated fallopian tube torsion (IFTT) in a premenarchal 11-year-old girl. The patient presented with subacute abdominal pain, associated with nausea and vomiting. Sonographic findings revealed left tube enlargement with free intraperitoneal fluid. Doppler mapping was not unequivocal. During exploratory laparoscopy, a large pelvic necrotic mass was found to be a twisted left fallopian tube. After detorsion, salpingectomy was performed and the patient recovered promptly, showing no complications 3 months post operation. IFTT should be considered as a differential diagnosis of lower abdominal pain in adolescent girls with normal-appearing ovaries on ultrasound. Conservative management for fertility preservation is the ideal approach. Therefore, avoiding delay in laparoscopy is crucial.

Bilateral sactosalphinx and congenital adrenal hyperplasia: case report on two rare conditions in two virgin girls

BACKGROUND

Sactosalpinx means a collection of fluid (serum, blood or pus) in the fallopian tube. CAH (Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia) is a typical 46XX DSD (Disorder of Sex Development) due to a steroidogenic enzymatic defect. Both conditions are rare and can lead to reduced fertility rate.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe two post-menarche virgin girls with CAH who were hospitalized for acute abdomen due to laparoscopically confirmed sactosalpinx. Case 1 recovered after conservative management, case 2 after a second-look and bilateral salpingectomy. The first case consisted of right sactosalpinx and previous peritonitis reported; the second one of bilateral symptomatic pyosalpinx and previous vaginal stenosis. Recurrent abdominal pain persisted at follow-up in Case 1: post-operative MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) showed bilateral hydrosapinx that disappeared at a following ultrasound scan control. Follow-up was uneventful 36 months after surgery in Case 2, except for the surgical revision of the vaginal introitus.

CONCLUSIONS

CAH-sactosalpinx association is a very rare but not negligible event. We suggest a conservative approach for sactosalpinx if tubal and/or ovary torsion can be excluded. Pyosalpinx is more challenging to treat, but during pediatric age we suggest starting with a conservative approach, especially in patients with CAH who have a potential low fertility rate. Careful gynecological follow-up after menarche is recommended to rule out any further causes of infertility.

Bilateral hydrosalpinx in patients with Hirschsprung's disease

PURPOSE

Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is uncommon in females. There are very few reports on the patients' obstetric and gynecological outcome. Hydrosalpinx causes pain and infertility. It is rare in nonsexually active teenagers. It may be because of an intrinsic disease of the fallopian tubes or secondary to surgery.

AIM

to describe the relationship between hydrosalpinx and HD or its surgical approach; to report the impact of bilateral hydrosalpinx on fertility in HD.

METHODS

The records of all females with HD since 1980 were reviewed. Only patients who reached menarche were included. Prevalence of hydrosalpinx and hydrosalpinx-free survival were compared after abdominoperineal (A) or transanal (T) surgery. Treatment for hydrosalpinx was reviewed.

RESULTS

Seventeen out of 27 patients had reached menarche (Group A: 13 patients; Group T: 4 patients). Five patients in group A and none in group T presented bilateral hydrosalpinx (p=0.261). There were no statistical differences in hydrosalpinx-free survival between groups (p=0.344). Hydrosalpinx treatment: two bilateral and one unilateral salpingectomy, one pyosalpinx evacuation and one untreated. Three patients had conception desire: one has children; two are on IVF program.

CONCLUSION

An association between hydrosalpinx and HD was observed. The development of hydrosalpinx was not associated with surgical approach in our study. Females with HD should have a gynecological follow-up for the development of hydrosalpinx, which can impair fertility.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Isolated fallopian tube torsion with hydrosalpinx: Review of a debated management in a pediatric population

PURPOSE

To quantify our experience with and assess the literature on diagnosis and management of isolated fallopian tube torsion (IFTT) with hydrosalpinx (HSX) in children.

METHODS

A PubMed search was performed on pediatric cases of IFTT with HSX to provide a comprehensive review analyzing details and management of this association, focusing on the problem of fertility preservation.

RESULTS

In addition to our 3 cases, 17 patients of pediatric IFTT associated with HSX were identified, for a total of 21 cases (median age 12.2 years). Menarchal status was present in 10/13 (76.9%); blood tests were reported in 9/20 (42%) showing leucocytosis in 7/9 (75%). Ultrasonography was performed in all cases except one. Laparoscopy was the surgical approach in 84.6% of the reported cases. The torsion was to the right in 36.8%, and to the left in 63.2% of the cases. In one case the torsion was bilateral and asynchronous. Performed procedures were salpingectomy (52.4%) and partial salpingectomy (14.3%); conservative management was reported in 33.3% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature describes different management techniques. Salpingectomy is the most frequently performed procedure but recently conservative management seems to be increasingly applied. A long-term study is necessary to define the most effective treatment for the preservation of future fertility in pediatric patients.

TYPE OF STUDY

Treatment study (Retrospective Study): LEVEL IV.

MRI in pelvic inflammatory disease: a pictorial review

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an ascending infection of the female genital tract caused by the spread of bacteria from the vagina to the pelvic reproductive organs and occasionally the peritoneum. The most common causative organisms are sexually transmitted. PID is a significant source of morbidity among reproductive age women both as a cause of abdominal pain and as a common cause of infertility. Its clinical presentation is often nonspecific, and the correct diagnosis may first come to light based on the results of imaging studies. MRI is well suited for the evaluation of PID and its complications due to its superior soft tissue contrast and high sensitivity for inflammation. MRI findings in acute PID include cervicitis, endometritis, salpingitis/oophoritis, and inflammation in the pelvic soft tissues. Acute complications include pyosalpinx, tuboovarian abscess, peritonitis, and perihepatitis. Hydrosalpinx, pelvic inclusion cysts and ureteral obstruction may develop as chronic sequela of PID. The pathophysiology, classification, treatment, and prognosis of PID are reviewed, followed by case examples of the appearance of acute and subclinical PID on MR images.