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Ovarian Torsion

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Endocrine Surgery in Children

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Abstract

Ovarian torsion is the twisting of the ovary on its vascular pedicle that can lead to vascular compromise and necrosis. Ovarian torsion can occur prenatally and at any postnatal age but is more common in adolescents. A high index of suspicion is required to make the diagnosis because of the typical nonspecific clinical presentation of lower abdominal pain and lack of physical findings. Imaging may suggest the diagnosis of ovarian torsion by demonstrating an enlarged ovary but has limited sensitivity. If the diagnosis of ovarian torsion is suspected then laparoscopic exploration is indicated and if torsion is discovered the recommended procedure in the absence of frank necrosis is ovarian detorsion rather than resection since visual inspection is a poor predictor of eventual viability of the ovary.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Surgery, 927 45th St Ste 301, West Palm Beach, FL, 33407, USA

    Anne C. Fischer

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  1. Anne C. Fischer
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Correspondence to Anne C. Fischer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Daniel J. Ledbetter

  2. Academic Pediatric Surgery Unit, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom

    Paul R.V. Johnson

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Fischer, A.C. (2018). Ovarian Torsion. In: Ledbetter, D., Johnson, P. (eds) Endocrine Surgery in Children. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-54256-9_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-54256-9_25

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-54254-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-54256-9

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