Early diagnosis of malignant-transformed ovarian mature cystic teratoma: fat-suppressed MRI findings

• Published in: Journal of gynecologic oncology Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 125 - 128
• Main Authors: Takagi, Hiroshi, Ichigo, Satoshi, Murase, Takayuki, Ikeda, Tsuneko, Imai, Atsushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology and Colposcopy 01.04.2012; 대한부인종양학회
• Subjects: Case Report; 산부인과학; Adenocarcinoma; Mature cystic teratoma; Fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging; Malignant transformation
• ISSN: 2005-0380; 2005-0399
• DOI: 10.3802/jgo.2012.23.2.125

The most common form of malignant transformation developing from a mature cystic teratoma is squamous cell carcinoma, representing 80% of malignant transformations, while adenocarcinoma accounts for approximately 5%. Because of this rarity, few reports exist of preoperative diagnosis of this tumor by magnetic resonance imaging, in particular with fat suppression techniques. Here, we report magnetic resonance imaging findings and clinical features of a 79-year-old woman with mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from a mature cystic teratoma (measuring 5×6 cm), classified as surgical stage IA. Because of the poor prognosis of malignant transformation, when mature cystic teratomas are detected (even smaller than 5 cm tumor size) in postmenopausal women, serum tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen levels and fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging may be potential indicators of malignant transformation.