Authored by Chang Sheng Yin
Introduction: Struma ovarii is a
rare type of ovarian cystic teratoma with composed of predominantly
thyroid tissue. It occurs
between 30-50 years of age, usually in unilateral ovary. Struma ovarii
rarely occurs before puberty and is growing slowly. Hereby we
reported 2 cases in which one case with combined cystic teratoma in one
side and Struma ovarii in contralateral side of ovary, the
second case with Struma ovarii occurs at age of 16 then growing
tremendously with in only 8 years.
Methods: A retrospective study of the data bases of community hospitals in Taipei city during 2014 -2016 were included. Two
cases with a histological diagnosis of Struma ovarii who had undergone surgery were identified.
Patients
Case 1: A 29-year-old female patient presented with recently irregular vaginal bleeding, abdominal distention and low abdominal
palpable mass. Her past history revealed right ovarian cystic teratoma underwent laparoscopic removal of tumor at age of 16. CT
scan revealed the contralateral ovarian calcified tumor (10cm x 7.5cm) with heterogenous mass with solid and cystic components.
Post-operative finding was left ovarian cyst with smooth surface and gelatinous material content.
Case 2: A 24-year-old single patient presented with amenorrhea
and abdominal distention. She had history of right ovarian
simple cyst (4.2cm x 3.2cm) at age of 16. She came after 8 years; the
physical examination found the ovarian tumor growing to a
tremendous size. CT scan showed a homogenous cystic tumor 25.8cm x
25.7cm x 16cm with a few heterogenous enhanced nodules.
Post-operative finding of big left ovarian cystic tumor, glistening
surface with gelatinous material, few septations was observed.
All two patient’s pre-operative diagnosis were dermoid tumors with suspected ovarian malignancy.
Conclusion: Due to the rarity of Struma ovarii its natural
history, growth pattern and treatment strategy is not yet cleared.
Clinical presentation and symptoms of Struma ovarii are vary, image
studies are often suspected of ovarian carcinoma. Preoperative
diagnosis is important. The best management plan should be
individualized. More cases reports are needed.
Introduction
The Struma ovarii is rare, a type of mono-dermic teratoma which composed entirely or predominantly of thyroid tissue, constitutes approximately 3% of all ovarian teratomas, 1% of all ovarian tumors [1]. Struma ovarii occurs between 30-50 years of age, usually in unilateral ovary, very rarely in combination of contralateral ovarian cystic teratoma. Struma ovarii rarely occurs before puberty and growing slowly. Hereby we reported 2 cases in which one case with combined cystic teratoma in one side and Struma ovarii in contralateral ovary, the second case with Struma ovarii occurs at age of 16 then growing tremendously within 8 years.Materials and Methods
Women with a histological diagnosis of Struma ovarii who had undergone surgery were identified from the data bases of community hospitals in Taipei city during 2014 -2016 were included. The mini-laparotomy approach for large ovarian cysts suggested by Pelosi MA II, et al [2] and was detailed elsewhere [3]. Two patients with histologically confirmed Struma ovarii whose medical records were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.Results
All surgeries were by mini-laparotomy in case 1 with RSO, and case 2 with ophoro-cystectomy. All two patient’s pre-operative diagnosis were dermoid tumors with suspected ovarian malignancy.Case 1
A 29-year-old single lady presented with recently irregular vaginal bleeding and abdominal distention and low abdominal palpable mass. On examination, the temperature was 36.8 ⃘C, the blood pressure 134/90mmHg, the heart rate 82 beats per minute, the respiration rate breaths 17 per minute. Her thyroid was not enlarged. The weight was 54kg, the height 168cm and the BMI 21. Her past history revealed right ovarian cystic teratoma underwent laparoscopic removal of tumor at age of 16. Two years before admission, she was incidentally identified a left ovarian tumor which was 10cm x 7.5cm in size at this clinic. During that time, she declined surgery and then follow up at clinic. Before admission, the ultrasound and CT scan revealed a left adnexal calcified tumor with heterogenous mass with solid and cystic components, size 10.7cm x 7.7cm without ascites. All the three tumor markers, (CA-125 31u/ml, AFP 1.58ng/ml, CEA 1.1mg/ml) was within normal limits. She underwent mini-laparotomy with left ovarian cystectomy. Intraoperative finding was left ovarian cyst with smooth surface with gelatinous material content.Case 2
A 24-year-old single lady presented with amenorrhea for 4 months and abdominal distention. Eight years before presentation, at age of 16, she called to our clinic for amenorrhea and was incidentally found to have a right ovarian simple cyst (4.2cm x 3.2cm). Her grandmother had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy 25 years ago due to clear cell carcinoma of ovary. On examination, the temperature was 36 ⃘C, the blood pressure 115 /86mmHg, the heart rate 80 beats per minute, the respiration rate 18 breaths per minute. The weight was 64 kg, the height 168cm and the BMI 22.6. Blood levels of TSH (2.31 u IU/ml), and ovarian tumor markers was normal (CA-125 31.9u/ml, AFP 2.59ng/ml, CEA 1.2mg/ml, Beta- HCG 0.1 m IU/ml). The abdominal examination revealed a big mass to low level of xiphoid process. Ultrasonography of the abdomen and CT scan showed a giant homogenous cystic tumor 25.8cm x 25.7cm x 16cm, a few heterogenous enhanced nodules. She underwent mini-laparotomy with left salpingo-oophorectomy was done (Figures 1&2). Operative finding: big left ovarian cystic tumor, glistening surface with gelatinous material, few septations. Uterus and right-side tube and ovary were normal. Following removal, the collapsed cyst was refilled with 6750mL of normal saline to demonstrate its actual size.There was no patient with tachycardia or other manifestations of hyperthyroid function, and no thyroid tumors was found by ultrasonography.
The age of the two patients were 29 and 24 respectively, both were of fertile age. Case 1 was abnormal uterine bleeding, case 2 presented with amenorrhea, both without thyrotoxicosis. No patient had ascites. Case 2 had a family history of ovarian cancer, neither had been operated on for breast cancer or other diseases.
Discussion
In this report case 1 was a rare occurrence, cystic teratoma in right ovarian cystic teratoma that was removed at age of 16, while left ovarian Struma ovarii removed at age of 29. Qiao, et al [3] reported a similar case, the tumor in the right ovary consisted Struma ovarii, while in the left ovary was a cystic teratoma, both tumors removed at same time [3]. Deguchy, et al [4] reported 2 cases of rapid growing cystic teratoma and concluded that: it has been shown that classic features of a cystic teratoma slow growth at an average rate of 1.8 mm each year in premenopausal patients, but more rapid growth should not exclude the diagnosis of a cystic teratoma [5]. The Case 2 was interesting: at age of 16 her right ovarian cyst was found incidentally just 4.2cm x 3.2cm then after 8 years later the tumor growing to tremendous size of 25.8cm x 25.7cm, a growth of almost 25cm in an 8-year timeframe, or 30mm/year. No previous report concerning the growing pattern of Struma ovarii was noted. Hyperthyroidism in the approximately 8% patients, but signs or symptoms of thyrotoxicosis is rare. Since strumal ovarii tissue is usually not functionally active, the associated with thyrotoxicosis can be due to autoimmune stimulation of the normal thyroid gland. The natural history and optimal treatment strategy for Struma ovarii remains unclear due to its rarity.The clinical presentation and symptoms of Struma ovarii are similar to those of other ovarian tumors and images are often suspected of ovarian carcinoma. Yoo, et al. [6] in 2008 reported that the most common initial symptoms are abdominal pain and distension, a palpable mass. and or vaginal bleeding [5]. Our Case 1 presented with irregular vaginal bleeding, and abdominal distention, while Case 2 was amenorrhea for 4 months and big palpable abdominal mass.
Preoperative diagnosis is important to avoid ovarian cancer type surgery. Diagnosis must be made by histopathological examination as intraoperative naked eyes diagnosis is not reliable. It is difficult to distinguish between Struma ovarii and dermoid cysts on the basis of their sonographic appearance. Yoo, et al. [6] found that ultrasonography was able to diagnose Struma ovarii in only 4/34 (11.8%) patients [5]. Mustafa reported a case of Struma ovarii was diagnosed by preoperative scintigraphy with radioactive iodine [131I] which showed active thyroid tissue in pelvis [6]. Zalel, et al. [7] demonstrated the capsule of dermoid cysts are usually devoid of blood flow, when low resistance Doppler flow signals, detected from the center of the echoic lesion (Struma pearl), may be more common in Struma ovarii [8].
The presence of thyroid tissue in Struma ovarii may demonstrate the appearance of high-density viscous colloid cysts containing thyroglobulin and thyroid hormones in the tumor resulting of low signal intensity are seen within the cyst on radiographic scan. Zhang, et al. [9] summarized computed tomography diagnostic clues included:
1. Mostly cystic-solid type, solid mass is rare;
2. Uniform density;
3. High-density cysts might be a characteristic feature;
4. Does not demonstrate lipid material;
5. Smooth cyst wall, calcified septum;
6. Marked enhancement of the thick septations/solid components/thyroid tissue with contrast agent;
7. Always show small amount of ascites.
While on pelvic magnetic resonance imaging included:
1. Low signal in T1W1 and high in T2W1 of cyst fluid;
2. Variety of signal intensities on T1-/T2-weighted images of thyroid tissue/thickened septs /cyst walls;
3. Very low intensity on T2-weighted MR and no enhancement on contrast-enhanced MR of cystic areas [8].
Malignant Struma ovarii is rare, accounts for 0.1-0.3% of mature teratomas cases. While metastasis from malignant Struma ovarii has only been reported in 5-6% of malignant Struma ovarii cases [9]. A study of 88 patients with malignant Struma ovarii, the adverse clinical course was noted as:
1. Adhesions formation (graded 2 to 4+),
2. Peritoneal fluid (> or =1 L), 3. ovarian serosal rent [9].
In a study of 68 patients with malignant Struma ovarii, (MSO) Goffredo et al found excellent disease-specific survival rates for the condition no matter what surgical treatment was used [10]. But MSO patients had a high risk for developing aggressive thyroid cancers, routine thyroid imaging in these patients were needed. Due to the rarity of malignant Struma ovarii [11], the development of new biomarkers is required.
The limitations of our study include Struma ovarii is a rare condition, hard to collect a large number of cases over a long period of time, and from different centers in order to obtain a reasonably large sample. Clinical manifestations and treatment options depend only on cases or case series. Currently there is no consensus on which the best management and each case is must be managed individually.
In summary, in this cases report, we have described special clinical features of Struma ovarii in a group of 2 reproductive aged ladies. More cases reports are needed.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank Miss Feng-Wei Bai, Pei-Ying Yang RN, Miss LI-Chuan Yao and for their hard work and support throughout this study.Conflict of Interest
No conflict of interest.Please follow the URL to access more information about this article
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