Conservative surgery in the management of a benign ovarian cystic teratoma presenting as a rectal mass: a case report

Abstract

Ovarian cystic teratomas constitute 10-15% of all ovarian tumours and are the most common ovarian neoplasms found in adolescence and during pregnancy. Nevertheless, ovarian cystic teratomas have also been described in patients aged 1-91 years. We report an unusual case of a benign ovarian cystic teratoma presenting as a rectal mass that was managed surgically using radical resection by a multidisciplinary team. This case report highlights the importance of preoperative investigations including colonoscopy and radiological investigations. A dedicated pelvic radiologist/pathologist and the involvement of a multidisciplinary team at the time of initial diagnosis and a gynaecologist and colorectal surgeon at the time of surgery will lead to an accurate diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment. Although rare, erosion of an ovarian dermoid into the rectum should be considered in young women who have an atypical presentation and are found to have a lesion in the rectum with biopsies indicating benign pathology. 2011; 93: e46-e48 Ann R Coll Surg Engl

Ovarian Mature Cystic Teratoma is an Independent Risk Factor for the Premature Rupture of Membranes in Pregnancy: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

“…2,19 Many previous studies have reported that MCT could invade neighboring organs, including urinary bladder, small intestine, sigmoid colon, rectum, and transverse colon, leading to the formation of fistulas. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Recent studies have even concluded that MCT could be strikingly related to Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis, a rare and understudied paraneoplastic neurological syndrome in both pregnant and non-pregnant patients. 35,36 It has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as intrauterine growth restriction and pre-term deliveries, and could even complicate labor by obstructing the birth canal.…”

“…Multiple studies have proposed that the presence of an inflammatory response in patients with MCT leads to invasion into neighboring or distant organs. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]35,36 Collectively, inflammatory responses originating from ovarian MCT sequentially involve maternal serum and ultimately the intrauterine compartment, which could possibly lead to the development of PROM.…”

An Unusual Cause of Rectal Invasion

“…These account for 10% to 20% of all ovarian neoplasms. 1 These are commonly asymptomatic and are found incidentally on imaging studies performed for other indications. 2 Complications of these tumors include torsion (16%), rupture (0.5%), and malignant degeneration (2%-6%).…”