Spontaneous Rupture of Benign Ovarian Cystic Teratoma in a Premenarcheal Girl

Abstract

Background Spontaneous rupture of benign cystic ovarian teratoma is an unusual occurrence. Case A 9-year-old girl presented with acute onset of abdominal pain. Under a radiological diagnosis of cystic ovarian teratoma, she underwent laparoscopic cystectomy, preserving as much ovarian tissue as possible. Direct observation of a defect on the tumor surface and the presence of keratinized squamous cells in the ascites were important clues for intraperitoneal rupture. Pathologically, the defect was surrounded by inflamed tissues adjacent to the gastric mucosa, suggesting that autolysis of the wall by proteolytic enzymes induced the spontaneous rupture. Summary and conclusion We present the youngest and first premenarcheal case of spontaneous rupture of cystic ovarian teratoma. Early diagnosis and minimally invasive surgical procedure are essential to preserve future fertility.