Adnexal masses can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous), and they can be categorized as simple or complex.

[1] In premenopausal women, adnexal masses include ovarian cysts, ectopic (tubal) pregnancies, benign or malignant tumors, endometriomas, polycystic ovaries, and tubo-ovarian abscess.

In postmenopausal women, adnexal masses may be caused by cancer, fibroids, fibromas, or diverticular abscesses.

[2] Indications that the mass is at a higher risk of being malignant include the presence of loculations, nodules, papillary structures, septations, or a size greater than 10 cm.

[5] This article incorporates public domain material from Dictionary of Cancer Terms.