Luteoma in pregnancy: a rare cause of threatened preterm labour!

Abstract

Pregnancy luteoma is a rare non-neoplastic tumor-like mass of the ovary. They are usually asymptomatic and found incidentally during ultrasound imaging or surgery. Rarely do they present with pain abdomen mimicking threatened preterm labor. They regress spontaneously after delivery. We presented a case of a 29-year-old G4A3 with twin pregnancies and chronic hypertension who presented with acute flank pain, constipation, and occasional hardening of the uterus. A provisional diagnosis threatened preterm labor with suspected ureteric colic and cystitis was made. The patient was initially managed on the same line but on a detailed in-patient evaluation her ultrasound revealed bilateral multicystic ovaries with few hypoechoic areas inside it mostly suggestive of ‘luteoma of pregnancy’. The patient had acne, hirsutism, and chronic hypertension well controlled on antihypertensives. The patient delivered twins successfully by cesarean section and luteoma and symptoms were resolved postpartum after 4 months. Recognition of this entity is important so that malignancy can be ruled out and unnecessary surgery, with concomitant risk to both the mother and the fetus, is avoided.