Ovarian Cysts and Benign Overay Neoplasms: History

Medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of ovarian cysts and other benign neoplasms of the ovary (ovary). According to the variety of diseases there is no typical medical history. Unclear lower abdominal complaints, cycle disturbances, unclear palpation, ultrasound, MRI or CT findings are usually the reason for specific diagnostic measures. This is particularly important in view of the fact that a large proportion of ovarian tumors can become malignant (malignant) or are primarily malignant (the incidence of malignant/malignant ovarian tumors is 15-20%).In premenopause (about ten to fifteen years before menopause), most ovarian tumors are physiological in nature (functional cysts, retention cysts). In postmenopause, tumors are also often benign (benign), yet the rate of malignancy increases significantly. In women < 30 years of age, the incidence of malignancy is about 3%, in 40-50 year olds 5-15%, and in > 50 years of age up to 35%. The average age of patients with ovarian cancer is between 58-68 years. On the other hand, ovarian findings in childhood are also suspicious for malignancy. Family history

  • It can be assumed that the vast majority of ovarian tumors, as far as known so far, do not have a genetic cause. However, there are no studies on this for the benign (benign) findings. Also, more than 90 % of all ovarian carcinomas (ovarian cancer) occur sporadically. Only about 5 % occur in families. Of particular importance in this context is the so-called hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC). In the majority of these patients are found genetic alterations in the genes BRCA 1 and BRCA 2.

Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • The main anamnestic clues are:
    • Complaints
      • Acute abdomen (stylet torsion, rupture)
      • Complaints/pain in:
        • Defecation (bowel movement)
        • Micturition (urination)
      • Pressure dolence (usually low) in the small pelvis.
      • Dysmenorrhea (period pain)
      • Dyspareunia (pain during intercourse)
      • Foreign body sensation in the small pelvis
      • Low back pain
      • Sharp pain (e.g., cyst rupture or stem rotation).
      • Unclear abdominal pain
      • Feeling of fullness
      • Increase in the circumference of the body
    • Bleeding disorders
      • Menometrorrhagia (bleeding duration more than fourteen days (common during menopause)).
      • Menorrhagia (bleeding is prolonged (> 6 days) and increased).
      • Metrorrhagia (bleeding outside the actual menstruation; it is usually prolonged and increased, a regular cycle is not apparent).
    • Indications of an androgen-forming tumor
      • Alopecia (hair loss)
      • Hirsutism (increased terminal hair (long hair) in women, according to the male distribution pattern (androgen-dependent)).
      • Clitoral hypertrophy
      • Male hair
      • Male voice pitch
      • Secondary amenorrhea (absence of menstruation > 3 months).
    • Evidence of an estrogen-producing tumor:
      • Bleeding disorders
      • Pseudopubertas praecox (form of premature onset of puberty).
    • Perimenopause (transitional phase between premenopause and postmenopause; varying period of years before menopause – about five years).
    • Premenopause (about ten to fifteen years before menopause).
    • Postmenopause (beginning 1 year after the last menstrual period).
    • Puberty
    • Cycle disorders:
      • Amenorrhea
        • No menstrual bleeding until the age of 16 (primary amenorrhea).
        • No menstrual bleeding for more than three months with already established cycle (secondary amenorrhea).
      • Polymenorrhea (the interval between bleeding is less than 25 days, so bleeding occurs too often).

Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.

  • While there is no evidence of associations between benign (benign) ovarian tumors and obesity, the relative risk of developing ovarian cancer is increased by 1.3 with an elevated body mass index (BMI).

Medication history