Postmenopausal giant ovarian tumor: a rare case report and literature review

Objective A giant ovarian tumor weighing 62 kg and containing 51 L cyst fluid is rare among postmenopausal women, and an early diagnosis contributes to a good prognosis. Methods We report a case of a 62-kg giant ovarian tumor, the largest ovarian tumor ever reported in China. A 64-year-old woman with a giant pelvic abdominal mass underwent surgery. Because of the occurrence of serious perioperative and postoperative complications, we then conducted a literature review to investigate possible risk factors for severe complications. Results During the operation, 51 L of intratumoral fluid was drained, and a giant ovarian tumor of approximately 62 kg was removed. The pathological examination showed that the tumor was a mucinous borderline one. The patient had perioperative hypotension and postoperative respiratory failure. After a comprehensive literature review, we found that the occurrence of serious complications may not be related to tumor volume and weight but age and the amount of fluid in the tumor. Conclusions The high incidence of severe complications should be carefully considered when huge ovarian tumors or tumors containing a large amount of tumor fluid in postmenopausal women are removed.