Biomaterial Database

Malignant struma ovarii. Light and electron microscopic study. 1983

F J Pardo-Mindan, and J J Vazquez

Malignant struma ovarii is a very rare tumor, consisting of a struma ovarii with malignant change. Only 17 examples with metastases have previously been reported. We present a case which involved both ovaries and produced multiple metastases. Microscopy and ultrastructure were identical to a mixed papillary and follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Characteristic ultrastructural features of malignant struma ovarii are: microvilli on the surface and in the cytoplasmatic vacuoles; oncocytic transformation of cytoplasm of some cells; and presence of electron dense, granular and crystalline material (colloid) in the follicles and vacuoles. The patient's thyroid was normal. We conclude that malignant struma ovarii can only be diagnosed wheb a carcinoma arising in the thyroid gland can be excluded. Ultrastructure examination may provide useful diagnostic features separating malignant struma ovarii from strumal carcinoid and serous adenocarcinoma.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008871	Microvilli	Minute projections of cell membranes which greatly increase the surface area of the cell.	Brush Border,Striated Border,Border, Brush,Border, Striated,Borders, Brush,Borders, Striated,Brush Borders,Microvillus,Striated Borders
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009362	Neoplasm Metastasis	The transfer of a neoplasm from one organ or part of the body to another remote from the primary site.	Metastase,Metastasis,Metastases, Neoplasm,Metastasis, Neoplasm,Neoplasm Metastases,Metastases
D009378	Neoplasms, Multiple Primary	Two or more abnormal growths of tissue occurring simultaneously and presumed to be of separate origin. The neoplasms may be histologically the same or different, and may be found in the same or different sites.	Neoplasms, Synchronous,Neoplasms, Synchronous Multiple Primary,Multiple Primary Neoplasms,Multiple Primary Neoplasms, Synchronous,Synchronous Multiple Primary Neoplasms,Synchronous Neoplasms,Multiple Primary Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Multiple Primary,Neoplasm, Synchronous,Primary Neoplasm, Multiple,Primary Neoplasms, Multiple,Synchronous Neoplasm
D010051	Ovarian Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the OVARY. These neoplasms can be benign or malignant. They are classified according to the tissue of origin, such as the surface EPITHELIUM, the stromal endocrine cells, and the totipotent GERM CELLS.	Cancer of Ovary,Ovarian Cancer,Cancer of the Ovary,Neoplasms, Ovarian,Ovary Cancer,Ovary Neoplasms,Cancer, Ovarian,Cancer, Ovary,Cancers, Ovarian,Cancers, Ovary,Neoplasm, Ovarian,Neoplasm, Ovary,Neoplasms, Ovary,Ovarian Cancers,Ovarian Neoplasm,Ovary Cancers,Ovary Neoplasm
D003102	Colloids	Two-phase systems in which one is uniformly dispersed in another as particles small enough so they cannot be filtered or will not settle out. The dispersing or continuous phase or medium envelops the particles of the discontinuous phase. All three states of matter can form colloids among each other.	Hydrocolloids,Colloid,Hydrocolloid
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013330	Struma Ovarii	A rare teratoid tumor of the ovary composed almost entirely of thyroid tissue, with large follicles containing abundant colloid. Occasionally there are symptoms of hyperthyroidism. 5-10% of struma ovarii become malignant, the only absolute criterion for which is the presence of metastasis. (Dorland, 27th ed; Segen, Dictionary of Modern Medicine, 1992)