Ovarian Cysts
Cysts on the ovary are very common and the presence of a cyst does not necessarily call for surgical removal, said Dr. Obianwu. That is because most ovarian cysts are non-cancerous and cause no symptoms and in some women they appear and disappear without causing problems in their menstrual cycle.
"If a woman has a cyst that is large, persistent, or symptomatic, we do a thorough evaluation. We then image the growth by ultrasound or other methods to determine what we are dealing with. Some cysts can be cancerous or precancerous and can cause major pain. They can rupture or bleed. They can become twisted and cause torsion and pain."
Once he decides to remove the cyst, surgical options can include an ovarian cystectomy, which removes the cyst and spares the ovary. He said the robotic system is one of his the newest approaches, which provides for better accuracy, ovarian sparring and a shorter recovery time, especially for complex cysts which would have otherwise done by open surgery. If the cyst is suspicious for cancer or cancerous, he refers the patient to the oncologist for management.
