August 2018 Case Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog English English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Translation is unavailable for Internet Explorer Cedars-Sinai Home 1-800-CEDARS-1 1-800-CEDARS-1 Close Find a Doctor Locations Programs & Services Health Library Patient & Visitors Community My CS-Link Education clear Go Close Academics Academics Faculty Development Community Engagement Calendar Research Research Areas Research Labs Departments & Institutes Find Clinical Trials Research Cores Research Administration Basic Science Research Clinical & Translational Research Center (CTRC) Technology & Innovations News & Breakthroughs Education Graduate Medical Education Continuing Medical Education Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Professional Training Programs Medical Students Campus Life Office of the Dean Simulation Center Medical Library Program in the History of Medicine About Us All Education Programs Departments & Institutes Faculty Directory Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency Back to Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency Application Information Explore the Residency Training Curriculum Autopsy Pathology Rotation Bone and Soft Tissue Head and Neck Pathology Rotation Breast Pathology Rotation Cardiovascular Pathology Rotation Clinical Chemistry Rotation Coagulation Rotation Cytopathology Rotation Dermatopathology Rotation Forensic Pathology Rotation Frozen Section Rotation Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology Genitourinary Pathology Rotation Genomic Pathology Rotation Gynecologic Pathology Rotation Hematopathology Rotation Laboratory Management Rotation Microbiology Rotation Neuropathology Rotation Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology Rotation Renal Pathology Rotation Transfusion Medicine Rotation Surgical Pathology Pathology Physician Scientist Training Program Residents Graduates Case of the Month Archive Publications Leadership Frequently Asked Questions August 2018 Case Authors John Paul Govindavari, MD (Resident) and Shivani Kandukuri, MD (Faculty) Subject Gynecological Pathology Clinical History 67 year-old female with several years' history of an adnexal mass, sonographically consistent with a dermoid tumor, presented with a chief complaint of several months of worsening abdominal distension, urinary frequency, and pelvic pressure. She underwent a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy which revealed a 10 cm ruptured cyst. Intraoperative frozen section findings were consistent with mature teratoma. Pathology Gross Examination 13 cm unilocular pink-tan cystic structure filled with viscous tan-white fluid. Internal lining was generally smooth but had focal shagginess. Additional Studies Ki-67: 30% P53: Diffusely positive Final Diagnosis Cystic sebaceous tumor, consistent with well-differentiated sebaceous carcinoma Discussion Malignant Teratomas Benign mature teratomas are quite common, with malignant transformation occurring rarely in less than 2% of cases. Mature teratomas with malignant transformation are often larger than benign tumors, with >90% of them measuring 10-20 cm with a gross cauliflower-like mass, mural nodule or plaque protruding into the cyst cavity. Currently only 9 cases of sebaceous carcinoma arising within a mature teratoma have been reported, with the estimated incidence rate of 1 to 2 per 1,000,000 per year. Sebaceous carcinoma is a malignancy derived from the adnexal epithelium of sebaceous glands, and most commonly arises from the Meibomian glands of the eye. Although the exact pathogenesis is unclear, some believe that sebaceous carcinomas arise from pluripotent stem cells, while others suggest that they develop from malignant transformation of differentiated sebaceous cells. Histologically, sebaceous carcinomas have basaloid cells arranged in sheets with cytologic atypia and central areas of necrosis. Immunohistochemistry reveals overexpression of P53 and ki67, as seen in some reported cases, like in our case. Sebaceous carcinomas arising in mature teratomas are grossly and microscopically similar to those arising from other sites, but are more frequently large, with a squamoid appearance and occasional squamous pearls. It is important to remember these tumors must be distinguished from basal cell carcinomas with sebaceous differentiation and sebaceous adenomas. Given the paucity of data directing the management of patients with extraocular sebaceous carcinoma, the optimal treatment plan for these patients remains unclear. None of the patients diagnosed with sebaceous carcinomas arising from a mature teratoma have developed recurrent disease, with follow up durations ranging from 4-72 months. In reviewing the literature, 3 patients with stage IA-IIIC disease were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, regimens including Cyclophosphamide and Adriamycin or Cisplatin, Bleomycin and Vinblastine. Compared to those with expectantly managed disease, there was no overall survival advantage. Although ocular sebaceous carcinomas are aggressive, often recurring locally after surgical resection and metastasizing via lymphatics, the prognosis of extraocular sebaceous carcinoma is thought to be far better. In our case, the tumor was localized to the ovary until immediate pre-operative incidental rupture occurred, thus upstaging from stage IA to stage IC disease. Research indicates that malignant dermoid cysts confined to the ovary have good overall 5-year survival rates approaching 75%. In general, capsular rupture and tumor extension are strong poor prognostic factors in cases of mature teratomas with malignant transformation (these conclusions are based on pooled data of all histologic types of malignant transformation within a mature dermoid, and are not specific to sebaceous carcinoma). However given this data, we opted to complete surgical staging via a second procedure, which confirmed only localized disease. Considering the additional morbidity of adjuvant therapy with no clear evidence of survival benefit, the patient has chosen to proceed with frequent surveillance. Muir-Torre Syndrome This is a rare genetic condition with autosomal dominant inheritance that is clinically characterized by the presence of at least one sebaceous skin tumor and at least one visceral malignancy, typically of the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract. Muir-Torre syndrome is a phenotypic variant of Lynch Syndrome and results from mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes. Screening for mismatch repair defects or microsatellite instability with IHC reveals have shown high positive predictive value for detecting Muir-Torre syndrome. Therefore, most experts recommend screening all sebaceous neoplasms, ocular, cutaneous or visceral, for mismatch repair defects. In our case, no germline mutation (Muir Torre or Lynch syndrome) was detected. But she is microsatellite instability high which is clinically significant in terms of future treatment options, as the FDA has now approved the use of PD1 checkpoint inhibitors for patients with metastatic or unresectable solid tumors with evidence of mismatch repair deficiency or microsatellite instability. References Ayhan A, Bukulmez O, Genc C, Karamursel BS, Ayhan A. Mature cystic teratomas of the ovary: case series from one institution over 34 years. Eur J Obstet Gyne 2000; 88(2): 153-157. Hackethal A, Brueggmann D, Bohlmann MK, Franke FE, Tinneberg HR, Münstedt K. Squamous-cell carcinoma in a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: Systematic review and analysis of published data. Lancet Oncol 2008; 9(12): 1173-1180. Betta PG and Cosimi MF. Sebaceous carcinoma arising in a benign cystic teratoma of the ovary: case report. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol 1984; 2: 146-149. Chumas JC and Scully RE. Sebaceous tumors arising in ovarian dermoid cysts. Int J Gynecol Pathol 1991; 10: 356-363. 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