Developmental disorders

II./1.2.: Teratoma adultum

A characteristic form of teratoma adultum, the dermoid cyst owes its name to the fact that, although it contains derivatives of all three germ layers, the predominant tissue elements are cutaneous derivatives. Dermoid cysts are covered by skin and lined by squamous epithelium, with an intraluminar secretion fluid of sebaceous type, also containing tissue pieces of salivatory glands, teeth, bone, cartilage, sebaceous glands and hairs. The struma ovarii also belongs to the category of teratoma adultum. This rare form of tumor appears in the ovary, with cells from all three germ layers, as previously, but during later development these get overgrown by thyroid-forming endoderm. Usually, mature teratomas are devoid of malignant parts, thus malignant transformation is most infrequent.