Squamous carcinoma arising in dermoid cysts and associated with hypercalcemia: a clinicopathologic study of six cases

Six cases of squamous carcinoma arising in dermoid cysts are reported. In four out of five cases in which serum calcium was measured hypercalcemia was present and increased pari passu with increases of tumor size. The presence of hypercalcemia in association with an ovarian tumor may therefore point to the possibility of this background. In all cases survival was short, ranging from 3 to 17 months. Five patients were treated with cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin but without great benefit. These cases, together with a review of the literature, suggest that a new treatment will be needed to improve survival in all but a few stage I cases.