Squamous cell carcinoma arising in a dermoid cyst of the ovary

Abstract

Background: Unlike ordinary germ cell tumors of the ovary, squamous cell carcinoma arising in a dermoid affects elderly persons. Prognosis is poor when the disease has spread beyond the ovary.

Case: The case of a 67-year-old woman with stage III squamous cell carcinoma arising in a dermoid cyst of the ovary and extending to the serosa and myometrium of the uterus, pelvic peritoneum, the serosa, and muscularis of the distal ileum and penetrating entirely through the wall of the sigmoid is presented. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, partial small bowel resection with anastomosis, partial colectomy with anastomosis, and excision of tumor from the pelvic peritoneum. She was treated with six cycles of Taxol and cisplatin chemotherapy at monthly intervals. She has remained disease-free for over 4 years.

Conclusion: This is the fourth report of a prolonged disease-free survival of a patient with stage III squamous cell carcinoma arising in a dermoid cyst of the ovary. This result is encouraging, but the best treatment for advanced cancer of this type has yet to be determined.