Immunocytochemical localization of neuroendocrine hormones and oncofetal antigens in ovarian teratomas.

The presence of neurohormonal peptides, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was evaluated using immunocytochemical techniques in 170 benign cystic teratomas and 19 solid teratomas. The latter ranged from grade 0 to 3. The presence of hCG, AFP, and CEA was associated with a high histological grade and may therefore play a role in the grading of solid teratomas. Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine cells frequently occurred in cystic teratomas without coexisting neural tissue. This finding is contrary to the neural crest origin previously suggested by other investigators and is in accordance with an endodermal origin of these cells.