Isolated torsion of a fallopian tube: an uncommon cause of abdominal pain in an 11-year-old

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 14; no. 8; p. e243947
• Main Authors: de Matos, Victória Leones, Pessanha, Inês, David, Daniela Agostinho, Gante, Inês
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group LTD 25.08.2021; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Abdomen; Appendicitis; Asymptomatic; Case Report; Case reports; Congenital diseases; Cysts; Fallopian tubes; Fertility; Gangrene; Inflammatory diseases; Laparoscopy; Motility; Ovaries; Pain; Pathology; Patients; Pediatrics; Pelvic inflammatory disease; Teenagers; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243947

This report describes a rare case of isolated fallopian tube torsion (IFTT) in a premenarchal 11-year-old girl. The patient presented with subacute abdominal pain, associated with nausea and vomiting. Sonographic findings revealed left tube enlargement with free intraperitoneal fluid. Doppler mapping was not unequivocal. During exploratory laparoscopy, a large pelvic necrotic mass was found to be a twisted left fallopian tube. After detorsion, salpingectomy was performed and the patient recovered promptly, showing no complications 3 months post operation. IFTT should be considered as a differential diagnosis of lower abdominal pain in adolescent girls with normal-appearing ovaries on ultrasound. Conservative management for fertility preservation is the ideal approach. Therefore, avoiding delay in laparoscopy is crucial.