Surgical removal of a gigantic abdominal mass: a multidisciplinary approach.

Abstract

Ovarian cystadenomas are common benign ovarian neoplasms that rarely present as gigantic abdominal masses. A variety of intraoperative and postoperative challenges may be encountered in the removal of these masses. We review the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with massive abdominal swelling that was later identified as two distinct bilateral serous cystadenomas with a combined weight of approximately 107 kg. A multidisciplinary team including gynecology, plastic surgery, anesthesiology, and the operating room staff convened before surgery to discuss surgical technique, physiologic considerations, and logistical issues. A multidisciplinary approach had an integral role in intraoperative safety and successful recovery of our patient from this surgery.