[Clinical study on 68 cases with struma ovarii].

Area of Science:

• Gynecologic Oncology
• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Pathology

Background:

• Struma ovarii is a rare monodermal teratoma of the ovary, predominantly benign.
• It can present with pelvic mass symptoms, but rarely causes hyperthyroidism.
• Malignant transformation is infrequent but carries a significant recurrence risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of struma ovarii.
• To differentiate features and prognoses of benign versus malignant struma ovarii.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical interventions and long-term follow-up.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 68 patients diagnosed with struma ovarii between 1990 and 2012.
• Review of clinical data, including patient demographics, presenting symptoms, diagnostic imaging (ultrasound), tumor markers (CA125), surgical procedures, and follow-up information.
• Categorization into benign (94%) and malignant (6%) struma ovarii for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• The median patient age was 42 years; most cases (94%) were benign.
• Common presentations included pelvic mass (47%) and abdominal pain (41%), with minimal CA125 elevation.
• Surgical options ranged from cystectomy to hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy; benign cases showed no recurrence, while malignant cases had a higher long-term recurrence rate requiring further treatment.

Conclusions:

• Struma ovarii is a rare ovarian teratoma, with benign forms being most common.
• Tumorectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy is effective for benign struma ovarii.
• Malignant struma ovarii has a low incidence but necessitates vigilant long-term follow-up due to potential recurrence.