CYSTIC OVARIAN ENLARGEMENT RESULTING FROM AUTOIMMUNE OOPHORITIS

Abstract

Autoimmune oophoritis is a rare cause of premature ovarian failure. Previous studies of autoimmune oophoritis have detailed the clinical, immunologic, and histologic findings. The gross pathologic features of the involved ovaries have not been emphasized. Herein, we describe a 35-year-old women with autoimmune oophoritis who presented with symptoms referable to a right cystic adnexal mass. She underwent a diagnostic laparotomy and right salpingooophorectomy for removal of an 8.0-cm-diameter, twisted multicystic ovary. Microscopically, mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltrated multiple follicular and luteal cysts. We have seen two additional patients with histologically verified autoimmune oophoritis who underwent diagnostic laparotomy and oophorectomy because of cystic enlargement of the ovaries. Stimulation of ovarian follicles by elevated levels of pituitary gonadotropins probably causes the cystic changes. Recognition of this aspect of autoimmune oophoritis may help to prevent oophorectomy in patients whose functioning ovarian tissue is already compromised by autoimmune destruction.