Noninflammatory fallopian tube pathology in children

Abstract

Noninflammatory tubal abnormalities are rare in children and usually not well covered by traditional educational material. The presenting symptoms are nonspecific and are common to many other conditions, so its preoperative diagnosis is rarely made. The purpose of this study was to review the hospital charts and imaging findings in children and sexually inactive adolescents who showed fallopian tube pathology. Understanding of the pertinent findings of previous imaging examinations might assist radiologists in making the correct preoperative diagnosis and increase the likelihood of preserving the fallopian tubes. The clinical entities described in this article include isolated tubal torsion, paratubal cysts, hydrosalpinx, undescended/ectopic fallopian tube, and tubal inguinal hernia.

Isolated torsion of the fallopian tube: a case report and review of the literature

“…MRI or CT can provide additional help in determining the contents of the structure and may show tubal coiling or a torsion knot. Furthermore, it may reveal infarction by a lack of contrast enhancement of the tubal walls [9,[13][14][15]. Secondary findings include free intrapelvic fluid, peritubular fat stranding, enhancement and thickening of the broad ligament, and regional ileus [12].…”

Adnexal Masses in Pediatric and Adolescent Females: A Review of the Literature

“…Hydrosalpinx is defined as a blocked, dilated, fluid-filled fallopian tube, which results from occlusion of the distal fimbriated end due to inflammatory or infectious processes or endometriosis [28]. Hydrosalpinx is uncommon in adolescent females, and rarely results in isolated tubal torsion, as described above.…”

Hydrosalpinx in Postmenarchal Nonsexually Active Girls: A Review of 6 Cases in a Children's Hospital

“…This is a consistent finding with a hydrosalpinx that makes it easily distinguishable from a septated ovarian cystic mass, which is usually round in shape. 1,11,19 It is important to note that a normal color Doppler examination does not rule out adnexal torsion because of the dual vascular supply to the ovary and the fallopian tube. 6 Further evaluation with a contrastenhanced MRI scan is warranted to provide further information on the anatomical picture, to help determine the cause, to characterize the nature of the contents of the dilated tube, such as blood or pus, and to provide functional information for decreased perfusion of the tissue.…”