case report

Mature Teratomas of the Lesser Omentum

Xiaoqian Lu, Leilei Liu, Dianbo Cao*

Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of JiLin UniversityChang Chun, China.

*Corresponding author: Dianbo Cao, Department of Radiotherapy, The First Hospital of Jilin university, 71 Xin Min Zhu StreetChang ChunChina 130021, China. E-mail: happybo126@126.com/ caotianbo@126.com

Received Date: 05 December, 2017; Accepted Date: 03 March, 2018; Published Date: 13 March, 2018

Citation: Lu X, Liu L, Cao D (2018) Mature Teratomas of the Lesser Omentum. J Surg 2018: 194. DOI: 10.29011/2575-9760.000194


Keywords: Gastric Metastatic Tumors; Melanoma; Treatment
Case

A 39-year-old female was admitted to our hospital complaining of intermittent distending pain in the epigastrium for 1 month. She denied the history of any disease or surgery. On admission, there was no mass detected on palpation. Preoperative laboratory test results were normal, and tumour marker tests revealed no elevation of cancer antigen. Abdominal CT scan showed a cystic-solid mass in the lesser omentum, which also contained calcified and adipose components. The mass compressed and displaced adjacent organs (Figure 1).

Based on typical CT imaging characteristics, mature teratomas was diagnosed before operation. At laparotomy, an encapulated mass measuring 13cm×10cm was found in the region of lesser omentum after opening gastrocolic ligament. Fully dissecting mass from adjacent structures, sebum-like liquid came out and two solid milky-white nodules along with hair were seen within the mass (Figure 2

Most of the wall of cystic-solid mass was removed, leaving only a small portion of residual cystic wall attached to the pancreatic head. Histopathological examination of the excised tumor was consistent with typical pattern of benign mature teratomas (Figure 3). and there was no evidence of a malignant germ cell component.

It is generally accepted that teratomas arise from germ cells that fail to mature normally in the gonads. These totipotent cells can differentiate into tissue components representing derivatives of mesoderm, ectoderm and endoderm. Macroscopically, teratomas can be divided into either mature or immature types [1]. Mature cystic teratomas are cystic tumors composed of well-differentiated derivations from at least two of the three germ cell layers. Teratomas may develop in multiple locations such as the ovaries, the testes, the anterior mediastinum, the retroperitoneal space, the presacral and coccygeal areas, pineal and other intracranial sites. However, teratomas of the lesser omentum are extremely rare and the pathogenesis of the occurrence of this tumor in the omentum is still unclear. CT examination is highly specific and sensitive for the detection of fat and calcification. Identification for both components within the lesion can help narrow the diagnosis to liposarcoma, malignant mesenchymoma or teratomas [2]. Principal findings of mature teratomas on CT images are a well-defined mass with separate cystic and solid components of varying proportions, discrete areas with densities similar to that of fat, or coarse, globular calcifications within the solid component. Recognition of these findings may allow the radiologist to make a correct preoperative diagnosis, but often there are diagnostic uncertainties about tracking the organ origin of a teratomas due to huge mass. In fact, there are some debates regarding the origin of teratomas in our patient, but operative findings and pathological examination of resected specimen confirm its origin to be from the lesser omentum instead of the pancreas. 








  1. McKenney, JK, Heerema-McKenney A, Rouse RV (2007) Extragonadal germ cell tumors: a review with emphasis on pathologic features, clinical prognostic variables, and differential diagnostic considerations. Adv Anat Pathol 14: 69-92.
  2. Cao D, Liu W, Guo L (2010) Malignant mesenchymoma surrounding the esophageal hiatus. Ann Thorac Sur 89: e1.

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Journal of Surgery