Mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: a clinicopathologic study of 283 cases.

Abstract

Mature cystic teratom is the most common germ cell tumor and accounts for about 33% of all ovarian neoplasm They occur primarily during the reproductive years, but may occur in the postmenopausal period or in childhood. A cystic teratoma can undergo malignant transformation; it occurs most frequently in postmenopausal women, and the prognosis is poor. However, it is a rare complicaiton, with an incidence less than 1%.