Struma Ovarii—Ascitic, Hyperthyroid, and Asymptomatic Syndromes

Abstract

A clinicopathologic study was made of 25 cases of struma ovarii. Significant ascites was present in nine cases, only four of which were malignant. Pleural effusion was present in two cases of benign struma and in one case of malignant struma not associated with pleural metastasis. Eight patients had hyperthyroidism; five of these eight also had adenomatous or colloid cervical goiters. Eleven patients had neither ascites nor hyperthyroidism and were classified as asymptomatic. These patients were either completely asymptomatic or complained of pelvic pressure related to a pelvic mass. One fifth of the tumors were malignant. They were of low grade, often treatable with 131l, and carried a favorable prognosis. In all but five cases it was evident that the neoplasm was grossly a teratoma. Microscopically, all showed features of multiadenomatous thyroid.