Open Access Case report

Struma ovarii with follicular thyroid-type carcinoma and neuroendocrine component: case report

Federico Selvaggi1, Domenico Risio1, Mathew Waku1, Daniela Simo1, Domenico Angelucci2, Alberto D’Aulerio1, Roberto Cotellese1 and Paolo Innocenti1*

Author Affiliations

1 Unit of General and Laparoscopic Surgery, Biomedical Sciences Department, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, 66100, Italy

2 Unit of Pathology, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy

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World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2012, 10:93 doi:10.1186/1477-7819-10-93

Published: 21 May 2012

Abstract

Struma ovarii (SO) is a slow-growing ovarian neoplasm with thyroid tissue as its predominant component. It is an uncommon neoplasm, usually asymptomatic with an unknown risk of malignant transformation. Due to difficulties in assessing the rare biological nature and the discrepancies in the reported cases, a consensus on the appropriate treatment has not been definitively reached.

A 50-year-old female was subjected to upper gut endoscopy which showed a 30-mm mass located in the gastric antrum, suggestive of mesenchimal tumor. Incidentally, a pelvic CT scan also documented a solid mass in the right adnexa, with morphological characteristics of ovarian neoplasm. The patient underwent gastrectomy, total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with lymph node dissection, and omentectomy. Histology documented the presence of gastric cavernous angioma, and, in the right adnexa, foci of follicular thyroid-type carcinoma arising in SO with a well-differentiated neuroendocrine component.

Here we report and discuss the clinical and morphological presentation of follicular thyroid-type carcinoma arising in SO. The neoplasm was discovered incidentally and had a favorable clinical outcome at 1-year follow-up.

Keywords:
Struma ovarii; Follicular thyroid carcinoma; Hysterectomy; Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy