Inflammatory Diseases of the Ovary

Abstract

Inflammatory lesions of the ovary occur largely in relation to infection of the fallopian tube. The most common infecting agent is Neisseria gonococcus and the ovary is infected by contiguity. Oophoritis may follow endometrial curettage, cervical biopsy, or vaginal surgery, but this fortunately is a rare occurrence. The organisms in these cases are anaerobic and/or aerobic streptococci and enterococci and the pathway of infection is lymphatic or hematogenous. Occasionally oophoritis may be related to colonic diverticulitis or acute appendicitis, but in these conditions the ovary is usually focally involved by its proximity to the bowel and then only superficially. It is interesting to observe that despite extensive adhesions between the fallopian tube and ovary, follicles and corpora lutea can still be seen in varying stages of development and regression. There are, of course, instances in which abscesses develop and the whole ovary may be destroyed, but these appear to be infrequent.