Mature cystic teratoma and their malignant transformation

Mature cystic teratomas (MCT) are benign germ cells tumors which are fairly common and are often diagnosed incidentally. In most cases they don't present a significant risk to survival, but in some rare cases they can progress to a malignant phenotype. In such cases the treatment must be adjusted to the new conditions and tailored to suit the malignant phenotype. In this review, we aim to describe the main clinical and biological features of various types of recorded malignant transformations and/or complications, as well as stress their differences in clinical behavior and therapeutic options. The management of benign vs. malignant MCT differs greatly and a specific subtype of transformation should be taken into consideration when designing therapy, as it can greatly improve the survival and quality of life.