Generalised purulent peritonitis and small bowel obstruction due to a spontaneously perforated ovarian dermoid cyst

What is it about?

A 28-year-old woman presented with vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and pyrexia. Radiological imaging demonstrated a large right ovarian dermoid cyst with free intra-abdominal fluid and small bowel dilation. She underwent laparotomy which revealed a spontaneously perforated right ovarian dermoid cyst resulting in generalised purulent peritonitis and small bowel obstruction due to bowel adherence at the perforation site. Meticulous adhesiolysis, right salpingo-oophorectomy, and extensive peritoneal lavage were performed, with a good postoperative recovery. Spontaneous perforation of an ovarian dermoid cyst is rare, but it should be considered in cases of peritonitis and bowel obstruction of unclear cause with a concomitant finding of a dermoid cyst.

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