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Case Reports
. 2021 Nov 22;14(1):167.
doi: 10.1186/s13048-021-00898-7.

Undescended ovary without abnormal development of uterus and urinary system: a report of four cases

Weixia Wei #  1   2 , Wenji Luo #  1   2 , Qicai Hu  1   2 , Liping Zeng  1   2 , Ruifang Wu  3   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Undescended ovary without abnormal development of uterus and urinary system: a report of four cases

Weixia Wei et al. J Ovarian Res. .

Abstract

Background: Congenital anatomic abnormalities of fallopian tubes and ovaries are rarely reported. Herein, we describe four cases of undescended ovary during laparoscopic surgery with abnormal anatomy of fallopian tube, yet without abnormal uterine development and urinary system abnormalities, which are analyzed by their clinical features and effects on reproductive function.

Case presentation: For the patients with undescended ovary, the location of unilateral or bilateral upper poles of the ovaries were usually much higher than that of the bifurcation of the common iliac vessel, and the fallopian tubes at the same side opened in the para-colonic sulcus. Among these four patients, two patients had primary infertility, one patient had tubal pregnancy rupture and bleeding, and one patient had uterine leiomyoma. The development of uterus was normal in all cases, and there was no abnormal development of urinary system. During the infertility examination, the fact that fallopian tubes lifted up in hysterosalpingography (HSG) might be regarded as an indicator of possible undescended ovary. The pelvic ultrasonography examination was of limited use in diagnosing undescended ovary.

Conclusion: Laparoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of undescended ovary. When there is periodic post-sacral spinal pain, MRI or HSG can be used for diagnosis of undescended ovary.

Keywords: undescended; maldescent; ovary; infertility.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The transvaginal ultrasound image of Case 1: The size of the right ovary was about 19.8 × 10.5 mm, the structure was solid
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Exploratory laparoscopy of Case 1: Exploratory laparoscopy showed that the bilateral undescended ovaries with bilateral fallopian tubes were too long, and the shape of the uterine cavity was normal
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The transvaginal ultrasound image of Case 2: Transvaginal ultrasound image showed PCO (polycystic ovary)changed in the left ovary, and the right ovary was unclear
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Salpingography result of Case 2: Salpingography showed that the right fallopian tube was raised and unobstructed, and the left proximal fallopian tube was blocked
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Laparoscopy image of Case 4: laparoscopy showed left-sided undescended ovary with long fallopian tube
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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