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Adolescents commonly complain of abdominal pain. Isolated tubal torsion (ITT) is a rare, yet serious potential cause of this pain.
Our researchers conducted a large case series in an effort to describe the presentation and management of ITT. They studied 19 females, 3 to 21 years old, who were diagnosed with ITT at Children's Hospital Colorado between January 2004 and August 2015.
Our researchers found a 100% correlation with side of adnexal pathology in the 16 patients with unilateral abdominal pain. Most cases were managed with laparoscopy. 78% of patients had abnormal findings ipsilateral to the ITT, often a simple paraovarian cyst. The most common intraoperative finding was a paratubal cyst. When Doppler flow was performed, a paratubal cyst was present in 88% of patients. Findings suggest the high occurrence of paratubal cysts is a pathologic predisposition for ITT. Providers should maintain a high index of suspicion for ITT and not assume that presence of Doppler flow rules this condition out. Laparoscopy and detorsion of the fallopian tube are appropriate treatments to preserve fertility.
Featured researchers
Tricia Huguelet, MD
Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Program
Children's Hospital Colorado
Associate professor
OB-GYN-Gyn and OB Health
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Stephen Scott, MD
Pediatric and adolescent gynecologist
Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Program
Children's Hospital Colorado
Associate professor
OB-GYN-Gyn and OB Health
University of Colorado School of Medicine
