Indications for hospitalization of young girls and adolescent girls – clinical work-up in the selected case

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical reasons for hospitalization due to gynecological causes of adolescent girls and young women. METHODS: We reviewed clinical data on reasons for hospitalization, treatment methods, and histopathological diagnosis in adolescent girls and young women hospitalized at the Second Department of Gynecology Medical University of Lublin, between January 2003 and December 2012. Methods of conservative or surgical treatment, as well as their clinical effectiveness, have been discussed. RESULTS: Over the analyzed period of time, we identified 334 patients at the age between 8 and 20 years, which accounted for 1.61% of all hospitalized women during that time. Rating these patients by age, we found the following: 1 patient < 9 years old, 2 patients aged 10-11 years, 38 patients aged 12-14 years, 128 patients aged 15-17 years and 165 patients aged 17-19 years old. The main clinical reasons for hospitalization of adolescents and young women due to gynecological causes were: ovarian cysts (138 cases; 41.3%), menstrual disorders (46 cases; 13.7%), pregnancy complications (35 cases; 10.5%), and congenital Müllerian anomalies (33 cases; 9.9%). The remaining patients (24.6%) were admitted due to suspicion of ovarian cyst (22 cases; 6.6%), cervical erosion (15 cases; 4.5%), juvenile metrorrhagia (15 cases; 4.5%), and vulvar diseases (8 cases; 2.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent girls and young women are rarely admitted to gynecological departments. Nevertheless, they present a clinical challenge. Proper diagnosis using advanced visualization methods, along with modern pharmacotherapy accounts for the final therapeutic success.