Abstract

Although cystic teratomas of dermoid cysts of the ovary are almost always benign tumors, the development of malignancy deserves emphasis. Five cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising in cystic teratoma were analyzed. They comprised 3.3% of 121 ovarian malignancies, and 1.4% of 284 cystic teratomas. The patients' age ranged form 54 years to 76, with the mean age of 62.2 years. The presenting symptoms were low abdominal mass, particularly rapid growing recently, low abdominal pain or discomfort, voiding difficulty, or vaginal discharge. Three cases involved right ovary and two left. The tumors were larger than benign cystic teratoma; the mean diameter of the tumors was 19.9㎝. Cut surface of the malignancies was cystic with areas of sold tumefaction or protuberance, or partly cystic and partly solid. Microscopically all the tumors showed squamous cell carcinoma of varying degree of differentiation besides teratomatous elements. Differential diagnosis between benign cystic teratoma and squamous cell carcinoma arising in cystic teratoma was studied an discussed in detail.