Fallopian tubes & broad ligament
Broad ligament
Paratubal cysts
Authors: Nicole Riddle, M.D., Jamie Shutter, M.D.
Topic Completed: 1 July 2013
Minor changes: 30 December 2020
Copyright: 2002-2021, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Fallopian tubes paratubal cysts
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Terminology | Epidemiology | Etiology | Clinical features | Radiology description | Case reports | Gross description | Gross images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Riddle N, Shutter J. Paratubal cysts. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/fallopiantubesparatubalcyst.html. Accessed January 17th, 2021.
Definition / general
- Epithelium lined fluid filled cyst adjacent to fallopian tube
Terminology
- Sometime referred to as paraovarian cyst
- Generally, terminology depends on location of cyst
- Hydatid cyst of Morgagni:
- Variant of peritubal cyst
- Commonly pedunculated, often tiny, frequently multiple, cyst connected to fimbriae
- Though typically asymptomatic, is twice as common in women with unexplained infertility and may play a role in infertility (possibly due to interference with tubal pick up and function)
Epidemiology
- Common incidental and benign finding (~4% of women, ~10% of adnexal masses)
- All age groups, most commonly third to fifth decade
Etiology
- Believed to originate from mesothelium or be remnant of Müllerian duct and Wolffian duct
Clinical features
- Most cysts are small and asymptomatic ( < 1 to 8 cm in diameter, rarely 20+ cm)
- May be found at surgery or incidentally on radiological study performed for another reason
- Larger lesions may become symptomatic causing pressure or pain
- May lead to torsion of adnexa resulting in acute pain
Radiology description
- May be seen on ultrasound but also CT / MRI of pelvis / abdomen
Case reports
- 28 year old woman (W V Med J 2005;101:176)
- 45 year old nulliparous woman with borderline endometrioid tumor arising in paratubal cyst (Gynecol Oncol 2005;97:263)
Gross description
- Variably sized, typically thin walled "cavity" in peritubal tissue
- May be attached to fimbriated end of tube by a pedicle
- Almost always has clear serous type fluid
Gross images
Images hosted on other servers:
Benign appearing cyst
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Usually lined by simple cuboidal epithelium
- May have fallopian tubal epithelium or focal papillary projections
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Low power view of
cyst (lower) separate
from fallopian tube (upper)
Differential diagnosis
- Rarely gives rise to borderline tumor or malignancy
