Extraovarian mature cystic teratoma of the mesentery. A case report and literature review.

A case is reported of a 60-year old woman who had intermittent abdominal pain due to a mesenteric teratoma which was misdiagnosed by the standard methods of abdominal tumor diagnosis as an ovarian tumor. The neoplasm measured 9 x 8 x 8 cm, was filled by hair and sebum, and histologically presented the typical features of a mature cystic teratoma. The mesentery and overlying small intestine showed an extensive inflammatory granulomatous reaction. The uterus and adnexa were free of neoplasmatic disease. This case of extra ovarian mature cystic teratoma which developed in the mesentery is unique among > 2000 ovarian tumors examined during a 30-year period at Aretaieion Hospital Pathology Laboratory.