The mass can be solid or fluid-filled, benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
This article discusses the different types of adnexal masses and their causes.
It also looks at symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of adnexal masses.
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Types and Causes of Adnexal Masses
There are hundreds of reasons why an adnexal mass may develop.
In premenopausal, non-pregnant women, most adnexal masses areovarian cysts.
There are several different types of ovarian cysts.
They include:
Most ovarian cysts are non-cancerous and resolve on their own.
In postmenopausal women, a healthcare provider should monitor cysts that are larger than 3 cm.
Adnexal masses are relatively common.
Red Flags
Cancer is only one of many possible causes.
Others grow slowly, averaging less than 2 mm per year.
How Is an Adnexal Mass Diagnosed?
You’ll need additional tests if your healthcare provider finds an adnexal mass during a physical exam.
Imaging tests that can help with the diagnosis include:
A pregnancy test can help diagnose atubalpregnancy.
If ovarian cancer is suspected, a CA 125 test may be ordered.
This test measures levels of a protein called cancer antigen 125 in the blood.
However, many healthcare providers will avoid this, especially if cancer is suspected.
This is because the extracted fluid may contain malignant cells that can seed other tumors.
How Is an Adnexal Mass Treated?
Your initial test results will help determine your treatment.
The majority of adnexal masses resolve on their own within a few weeks.
Others grow slowly, averaging less than 2 mm per year.
Your healthcare provider may prefer a watch-and-wait approach, regularly monitoring for any changes in the mass.
Alternatively, it may be best to start immediate interventions.
This may include surgical removal of the mass followed by lab evaluations.
If the mass is a tubal pregnancy, emergency treatment may be required.
This will prevent a potentially life-threateningrupture, especially if you have symptoms.
This cancer may not show up until years after the growth appears.
HGSOC accounts for around 75% of all ovarian cancers.
Summary
Adnexal masses are usually not cancerous.
They may be associated with ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Some can be immediately life-threatening, as in the case of an ectopic pregnancy.
Adnexal masses are usually diagnosed with an imaging test like a transvaginal ultrasound or an MRI scan.
Depending on the cause, they may be treated with a watch-and-wait approach or with surgery.
These healthcare providers are more experienced in thediagnosis, staging, and of treatment of endometrial and ovarian cancers.
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