1999 Volume 38 Issue 6 Pages 608-612
Background: The cytologic findings of immature teratoma in ascites remain poorly described.
Case: A 20-year-old Japanese woman was referred with a pelvic cystic mass and massive ascites. The patient underwent right salpingo-oophorectomy. The microscopic examination revealed grade 3 immature teratoma. Cytologic findings of ascites were characterized by a small, round, hyperchromatic nucleus, one or two small nucleoi and scanty cytoplasm, resembling the cytomorphology of neuroblastoma or granulosa cell tumor. The tumor cells were seen in solitary or aggregated arrangement. Rosette formation was partly noted. The patient received 6 courses of chemotherapy with bleomycin, VP-16 and cisplatin and remain alive with no evidence of disease 3 years after initial surgery.
Conclusion: This is the second only report on the cytologic findings of immature teratoma in ascites, mimicking neuroblastoma or granulosa cell tumor.
