Fetal Ovarian Cysts and IOTA Terminology for Perinatal Management
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Fetal Ovarian Cyst, Neonatal Ovarian Cyst. Basic parameters: from 18 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Italy
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Fetal Ovarian Cysts: Application of the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) Terminology and Implications for Perinatal Management
Overview
Fetal ovarian cysts are common prenatal findings with a highly variable clinical course, ranging from spontaneous resolution to complications such as torsion, hemorrhage, or rupture requiring surgery. Current prenatal classification is mainly based on the distinction between "simple" and "complex" cysts; however, this approach may be insufficient to accurately predict outcomes and guide perinatal management. This multicenter prospective observational study aims to validate a management model based on the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) terminology for ultrasound characterization of fetal ovarian cysts. Pregnant women carrying a fetus with an ovarian cyst will be enrolled and followed with serial ultrasound examinations during pregnancy and after birth. Cysts will be classified according to morphology and cyst content (anechoic, low-level, ground-glass, hemorrhagic, mixed, and others) and managed according to a predefined protocol based on cyst size and ultrasound features. The primary objective is to assess the rate of complications requiring postnatal surgery in conservatively managed fetal ovarian cysts with anechoic or low-level cystic content smaller than 4 cm. Secondary objectives include evaluation of complication rates in larger cysts managed with aspiration procedures, rates of spontaneous cyst resolution, rates of ovarian torsion, and the presence of normal ovarian parenchyma at histology in surgically treated cases. The study aims to improve prenatal risk stratification and optimize perinatal management in order to reduce unnecessary surgery and preserve ovarian function.
Primary outcome measures
- Complication Rate in Conservatively Managed Fetal Ovarian Cysts [Time frame: From enrollment through 2 weeks postnatal follow-up]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Pregnant women aged ≥18 years Singleton or multiple pregnancies with fetal ovarian cyst diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound at any gestational age Signed informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Refusal to provide informed consent
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Italy · 1 center
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS — Roma
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07587580 · 27206