Strumal Carcinoid Focus in Mature Cystic Teratoma in a Patient with Breast Cancer and Desire for Fertility Preservation

Abstract

Ovarian primary carcinoid tumors are very rare, accounting for 0.5-1.7% of all carcinoid tumors and 3% of ovarian teratomas. This type of tumor frequently arises from a mature cystic teratoma. The primary ovarian carcinoid tumors are divided into 4 major types, based on their histological characteristics: insular, trabecular or mucinous pattern. Strumal carcinoid refers to insular or trabecular pattern associated with struma ovarii. The strumal type is the most common histologic form, accounting for 40% of primary ovarian carcinoid tumors. Approximately 5% of carcinoid tumors of the non-mucinous type can be malignant. However, in the case of ovarian strumal carcinoid, the occurrence of metastasis is unusual. This article is based on a case of a 30-year-old nulliparous woman diagnosed with strumal carcinoid, who presented a right ovarian tumor suggestive of teratoma synchronous to a breast cancer. She was referred to our center for fertility preservation.