Extragonadal recurrence of benign mature teratoma in the pouch of Douglas

Abstract

Laparoscopic cystectomy for mature teratomas is associated with a high incidence of intraperitoneal spillage and tumor spread; however, extragonadal recurrence of this benign tumor is rare. We hereby present an additional case of extragonadal mature teratoma that recurred in the pouch of Douglas after ovarian cystectomy. A 43-year-old Japanese woman presented with atypical genital bleeding. A 7 cm mature teratoma was detected using transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. At 26 years old, she underwent bilateral cystectomy for bilateral mature teratoma of the ovary. During laparoscopic surgery, a cystic tumor appeared in the pouch of Douglas and was firmly adhered to the surrounding tissues. Both ovaries were normal. The resected tumor was diagnosed as extragonadal, benign, mature teratoma. To avoid the extragonadal recurrence of mature teratoma, removal of tumor contents from intraperitoneal spillage by lavage should be performed at the end of surgery.

Keywords: mature teratoma; pouch of Douglas; recurrence.