Ruptured hemorrhagic cyst in an undescended ovary

The authors report on a patient with an uncommon congenital anomaly of bilateral undescended ovaries and tubes. She presented with an acute abdomen at 13 years of age. A computed tomography scan showed a cystic mass suspicious for congenital intestinal duplication. At the time of laparoscopy, she was found to have a bicornuate uterus and bilateral undescended ovaries with a ruptured right hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. This case shows that although a ruptured ovarian cyst can occur in such malpositioned organs, it can pose difficult diagnostic challenges. Suppression of the ovaries with the combined oral contraceptive pill may help to prevent further ovarian cyst development. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.