A 20 year old woman consulted the Students' Health Service GP at her university because of an enlarging abdomen and abdominal fullness.Friends had been asking her if she was pregnant,but she was not sexually active.The physician palpated a large mass in the right ovary.She underwent an exploratory laparotomy (abdominal exploration),and an 8 cm tumour was removed,along with the right ovary.When sectioned,the tumour containing a mass of oily hair.A representative section is shown in the accompanying photomicrograph.Which one of the following is the best diagnosis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The vignette and description of the tumour are a classic presentation of cystic teratoma,or so-called dermoid tumour.These tumours often contain hair and sebaceous glands,although,since they are teratomas,they can contain virtually any type of tissuEThey are considered benign.

A 20 Year Old Woman Consulted the Students' Health Service