Laparoscopic unilateral oophorectomy for ovarian tissue cryopreservation in children
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In brief
In brief
Retrospective study of 64 pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic unilateral oophorectomy for ovarian tissue cryopreservation prior to gonadotoxic cancer treatment. The procedure was performed safely as an outpatient operation in 84% of cases, often combined with ancillary procedures, with no surgical complications and no delays to subsequent cancer therapy.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Background/Purpose
Many survivors of childhood cancer will experience premature gonadal insufficiency or infertility as a consequence of their medical treatments. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) remains an experimental means of fertility preservation with few reports focused on the surgical technique and postoperative outcomes for OTC in children.
Methods
This is a single institution, retrospective review of OTC cases from January 2011 to December 2017. Children were eligible for OTC if they had a greater than 80% risk of premature ovarian insufficiency or infertility owing to their anticipated gonadotoxic medical treatment.
Results
OTC was performed in 64 patients. Median age was 12 years old (range: 5 months–23 years). Nearly half (48%) of the patients were premenarchal. Laparoscopic unilateral oophorectomy was performed in 84% of patients. There were no surgical complications. In 76% of patients, OTC was performed in conjunction with an ancillary procedure. The majority (96%) of patients were discharged within 24 hours. Median time from operation to medical therapy was six days, with no unanticipated treatments delays attributable to OTC.
Conclusions
Laparoscopic unilateral oophorectomy for OTC can be performed safely, in combination with other ancillary procedures, as an outpatient procedure without delaying medical therapy for children facing a fertility-threatening diagnosis or treatment.
Level of Evidence
IV.