<aside>
A paraovarian (paratubal) cyst is a benign cystic lesion that arises from the mesosalpinx or broad ligament, located between the ovary and the fallopian tube. Unlike ovarian cysts, it does not originate from the ovary.
</aside>
| Modality | Imaging features |
|---|---|
| US | • Well-defined, thin-walled, anechoic cyst. |
| • Adjacent to but separate from the ovary (normal ovary seen separately). | |
| • No internal septations or solid components (unless complicated). | |
| • Posterior acoustic enhancement. | |
| • “Split sign”: mobility between cyst and ovary when probed – confirms paraovarian location. | |
| CT/MR | • Thin-walled, fluid-attenuation lesion in broad ligament. |
| • No enhancement of wall/solid components (unless complications). | |
| • Helps in differentiating from ovarian cyst, hydrosalpinx, or peritoneal inclusion cyst. |
Transabdominal ultrasound image of the right adnexa showing a paraovarian unilocular anechoic cyst close to but separate from the ipsilateral ovary
****Savelli L, Ghi T, De Iaco P, Ceccaroni M, Venturoli S, Cacciatore B. Paraovarian/paratubal cysts: comparison of transvaginal sonographic and pathological findings to establish diagnostic criteria. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2006;28(3):330-334. doi:10.1002/uog.2829 Tzur T, Smorgick N, Sharon N, Pekar-Zlotin M, Maymon R, Melcer Y. Adnexal torsion with paraovarian cysts in pediatric and adolescent populations: A retrospective study. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2020;56(2):324-327. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.05.023