# Massive Ovarian Oedema in Pregnancy: A Diagnostic Dilemma

**Authors:** Jaice M Devasia, Bharathi D Rao

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.81640 · Cureus · 2025-04-03

## TL;DR

A pregnant woman presented with a rare condition called massive ovarian oedema, which was difficult to diagnose and required multiple tests to confirm.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the diagnostic challenges of massive ovarian oedema during pregnancy and its potential misdiagnosis as ectopic pregnancy.

## Key findings

- Massive ovarian oedema was confirmed histologically after imaging and blood tests failed to provide a definitive diagnosis.
- The condition presented as a pelvic mass with imaging features resembling an ectopic pregnancy.
- Medical termination and exploratory surgery were necessary to reach a conclusive diagnosis.

## Abstract

Massive oedema of the ovary is a rare clinical entity and poses a clinical challenge due to the potential for misdiagnosis. This is a case of a 27-year-old pregnant woman with incidentally detected ovarian oedema on routine dating scan. She was asymptomatic. Clinical examination revealed a midline pelvic mass, which was firm to hard in consistency, corresponding to a 14-week size of a gravid uterus. After medical termination as requested by the patient, further imaging was done. Contrast-enhanced CT showed a well-defined cystic lesion in the left adnexa with a thick, irregular enhancing wall and multiple intensely enhancing tortuous tufts of vessels seen from the ovarian artery and draining into the left ovarian vein, likely of old ovarian ectopic pregnancy. Hence, a beta-human chorionic gonadotropin test was done to rule out ectopic pregnancy. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy as a conclusive diagnosis could not be reached. Histological examination finally revealed ovarian oedema.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** ectopic pregnancy (MONDO:0000755)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** cystic lesion (MESH:D052177), ovarian ectopic pregnancy (MESH:D065172), Ovarian Oedema (MESH:D010049), ectopic pregnancy (MESH:D011271), oedema of the ovary (MESH:D016649)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12048856/full.md

## References

7 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12048856/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12048856