[Cystic teratoma of the ovary and cancer: structural and histochemical study]

Three cases corresponding to surgical pieces which included cystic ovarian tumors were studied, with the purpose of characterizing their structural and cytochemical components. Techniques of Hematoxylin -eosin, P.A.S., P.A.S.-amylase, Cason's thrichromic and Ag (Senior-Munger) were employed, the last one to determine the presence of cytoplasmic secretory granules. In two the of cases, mature cystic teratomes were found, one of them with malignant development, typical of an adenocarcinoma. The last case corresponded to a monodermic teratoma--highly specialized struma of the ovary-carcinoid tumor. It is to be noted that, in this last case, the patient consulted for hypertensive crises.