Can children get ovarian cysts?

Can children get ovarian cysts?

Ovarian cysts in children are mainly caused by gonadotropin stimulation of the ovaries. Most simple cysts in children are formed after the ovarian follicles fail to ovulate. Some functional cysts can secrete hormones, leading to pseudo-precocious puberty in girls, mainly manifested as vaginal bleeding and early breast development.

Ovarian cysts may also be seen in patients with idiopathic central precocious puberty and are expected to disappear after treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs. When the ovaries are enlarged and multicystic before puberty, investigation for thyroid disease should be performed. Cysts in children, not associated with precocious puberty, may be paraovarian or mesothelial cysts and require surgical removal if symptomatic, such as torsion or rupture.

Clinical manifestations of ovarian cysts in children:

Ovarian cysts in children usually have no symptoms and are usually discovered by the doctor because they or the parents feel a lump in the abdomen or a significant increase in abdominal circumference when bathing or changing the child. The embryonic ovary first appears at the level of the tenth thoracic vertebra. The ovary is located in the abdomen and gradually matures and descends into the true pelvis before puberty.

Children with ovarian cysts do not have pelvic cysts but rather abdominal masses. They may present with chronic pain around the umbilical cord or on one side. When the cyst is twisted, ruptured, or infarcted, or has internal bleeding, children usually complain of severe abdominal pain, similar to the manifestations of appendicitis or peritonitis. Nonspecific symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, frequent urination, or constipation also indicate the possibility of a cyst. Cysts that are usually accompanied by the above symptoms may be large.