Sonographic appearance of a dermoid cyst (mature cystic teratoma) of the spleen

Mature splenic teratoma: A rare case report

INTRODUCTION

Teratomas are germ cell neoplasms that can be malignant or benign. Their occurrence is more prevalent in gonads, but there are rare extragonal reports, and splenic teratomas are exceptionally uncommon.

CASE REPORT

A 44-year-old woman with a report of abdominal pain on the left flank for 12 h, was evaluated with TC that visualized spleen showing an oval, intraparenchymal, hypodense image with dense areas, submitted to conventional splenectomy, what identified mature cystic teratoma.

DISCUSSION

Dermoid cysts have nonspecific symptoms, usually related to extrinsic compression of other structures or rupture of the splenic capsule; the diagnosis is complex, since the alterations in imaging exams are not very specific. Thus, the confirmation is made through anatomopathological analysis.

CONCLUSION

Mature splenic cystic teratomas are rare and treatment should be evaluated according to the presence or absence of symptoms and diagnostic certainty.