[Malignant degeneration of benign cystic teratoma of the ovary with synchronous mediastinal teratoma. A case report]

Double whammy - mediastinal and ovarian teratoma: a rare clinical co-existence

Teratomas are germ cell tumours arising as the result of abnormal development of totipotential cells. They are commonly encountered in the gonads and occasionally found in mediastinum. We report a case of asymptomatic 28 years old lady with concomitant mature cystic teratoma in her mediastinum and left ovary which was diagnosed incidentally during health check up. This case is reported because of its rare and unusual coexistence.

[Malignant degeneration of benign cystic teratoma of the ovary]

Malignant transformation of mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is a rare complication occurring preferentially during peri- and post-menopausal period. No clinical nor radiological, nor biological signs are specific to malignant transformation. The treatment is surgical and similar to that of epithelial tumors of the ovary. We report an observation of a squamous cell carcinoma developed on a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary, in a patient aged 46 years.