Gliomatosis peritonei is associated with frequent recurrence, but does not affect overall survival in patients with ovarian immature teratoma

Growing teratoma syndrome: diagnostic challenges and outcomes

PURPOSE

The aim of this case report is to emphasize the significance of the growing teratoma syndrome. Growing teratoma syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed due to its low prevalence, with an estimated incidence of 19% among all immature ovarian teratomas and a lack of experience among healthcare professionals. It is characterized by the growth of benign tumoral tissue during or after chemotherapy for malignant germ cell tumors.

CASE REPORT

Our case is about a 46-year-old patient diagnosed with an immature teratoma who was treated unsuccessfully with surgery and chemotherapy. The patient was then referred to our hospital for a second opinion, where this unknown entity was diagnosed and underwent complete surgical debulking, including abdominal wall resection and subsequent repair.

CONCLUSION

Physicians need to be aware of rapidly growing masses during or after chemotherapy because early recognition of this syndrome is essential for the adequate treatment of our patients.

Management strategy for children with ovarian immature teratoma: results from a tertiary pediatric oncology center

OBJECTIVES

We present an Egyptian study on pediatric ovarian immature teratomas (ITs), aiming to clarify our treatment strategy selection.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all children with pure ovarian ITs who were treated at our institution between 2008 and 2023. The analysis included clinical characteristics, tumor staging according to Children's Oncology Group (COG), grading based on the Norris system, management, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients were included, with a median age of 9 years. All patients underwent primary surgery. Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed in 31 patients. Surgical staging was completed in all patients. Based on COG staging, there were 28 patients (87.5%) stage I, 1 (3%) stage II, and 3 (9.5%) stage III. According to Norris classification, 16 patients (50%) were classified as grade I, 9 (28%) grade II, and 7 (22%) grade III. All patients in stage I were treated using surgery-alone approach, whereas the remaining four (12.5%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. Five patients in stage I had gliomatosis peritonei (GP), and none of them underwent extensive surgery. At a median follow-up of 86 months, two patients had events. The first patient (stage III/grade I) developed IT relapse on the operative bed, and the second (stage I/grade I) had a metachronous IT on the contralateral ovary. Both patients were successfully managed with surgery followed by second-line chemotherapy. Five-year overall survival and event-free survival for all patients were 100% and 93.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery-alone strategy with close follow-up achieves excellent outcomes for localized ovarian ITs in children, irrespective of the Norris grading or the presence of GP. However, adjuvant chemotherapy is questionable for patients with incompletely resected or locally advanced tumors, and its role requires further evaluation through prospective multicentric studies with a larger sample size.

Unusual imaging findings associated with abdominal pediatric germ cell tumors

Germ cell tumors of childhood are tumors arising from germline cells in gonadal or extragonadal locations. Extragonadal germ cell tumors are characteristically located in the midline, arising intracranially or in the mediastinum, retroperitoneum, or pelvis. These tumors are generally easily diagnosed due to typical sites of origin, characteristic imaging findings, and laboratory markers. However, germ cell tumors can be associated with unusual clinical syndromes or imaging features that can perplex the radiologist. This review will illustrate atypical imaging/clinical manifestations and complications of abdominal germ cell tumors in childhood. These features include unusual primary tumors such as multifocal primaries; local complications such as ovarian torsion or ruptured dermoid; atypical presentations of metastatic disease associated with burned-out primary tumor, growing teratoma syndrome, and gliomatosis peritonei; endocrine manifestations such as precocious puberty and hyperthyroidism; and antibody mediated paraneoplastic syndrome such as anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor antibody-mediated encephalitis. This review aims to illustrate unusual imaging features associated with the primary tumor, metastatic disease, or distant complications of abdominal germ cell tumors of childhood.

Ovarian Teratoma Presenting With Gliomatosis Peritonei and a Melange of Symptoms Mimicking Ovarian Cancer in a Paediatric Patient

Gliomatosis peritonei (GP) is a rare condition characterised by mature glial nodules that implant in the peritoneum, lymph nodes, or omentum. GP is typically associated with mature or immature ovarian teratomas and usually affects adolescent females. Although neuroglia may be a standard feature of mature ovarian teratomas, widespread peritoneal glial nodules, ascites, and pleural effusion are rare, particularly in the paediatric population. We report a case of a giant left mature ovarian teratoma associated with GP and omental splenunculus in a 12-year-old female who presented with constipation, an adnexal mass, ascites, pleural effusion, and elevated CA-125 levels. The patient successfully underwent fertility-sparing surgery in the form of a left salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and resection of peritoneal glial deposits. In light of the current scarcity of data on this clinical entity in the literature, we hope to raise awareness of this rare presentation of mature ovarian teratoma, the challenges associated with preoperative diagnosis, and the impact of fertility-sparing surgery on potential oncological and reproductive outcomes in a paediatric patient.

Ovarian Immature Teratoma With Nodal Gliomatosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Gliomatosis involving lymph nodes (nodal gliomatosis) is rarely encountered in association with an ovarian teratoma, with 12 cases previously reported. We report this rare occurrence in a 23-yr-old female with an ovarian immature teratoma. The ovary contained a grade 3 immature teratoma, with immature neuroepithelium. A subcapsular liver mass contained metastatic immature teratoma with neuroepithelium. The omentum and peritoneum contained mature glial tissue, consistent with gliomatosis peritonei with no evidence of immature elements. One pelvic lymph node contained multiple nodules of mature glial tissue, diffusely positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein, in keeping with nodal gliomatosis. In reporting this case, we review prior reports of nodal gliomatosis.

Peritoneal and Nodal Gliomatosis Mimicking Metastasis on FDG PET/CT in a Patient With Ovarian Immature Teratoma

ABSTRACT

Peritoneal and nodal gliomatosis is a rare disease condition characterized by implants of mature glial tissue on the peritoneum and lymph nodes. It is typically associated with teratoma and has no adverse effect on prognosis. We present a case of 22-year-old woman who underwent FDG PET/CT for the staging of ovarian immature teratoma. PET/CT revealed mildly increased FDG uptake in the peritoneal cavity and increased FDG uptake in the internal mammary and cardiophrenic angle lymph nodes, which were histopathologically diagnosed as peritoneal and nodal gliomatosis. This case suggests that PET/CT findings of peritoneal and nodal gliomatosis could mimic metastasis.

Human chorionic gonadotropin elevation in gliomatosis peritonei complicated with immature teratoma: A case report and review of the literature

RATIONALE

Gliomatosis peritonei (GP) refers to the implantation of glial tissue on the visceral and parietal peritoneal surface, often associated with immature teratoma. It is a rare condition and the pathogenesis is not fully understood. In addition, the indistinguishable radiological appearance of immature and mature teratomas, and limited pathology samples make an accurate diagnosis difficult in most cases. More importantly, patients are also at risk of recurrence after surgery. This report aims to describe the process of diagnosis and treatment of GP with immature teratoma.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient, a 38-year-old woman presented with GP complicated with immature teratoma after laparoscopic ovarian cyst excision.

DIAGNOSES

On physical examination, a 15 cm-pelvic mass, with poor mobility, was palpated. And tumor marker demonstrated a moderate increase in α-fetoprotein and carbohydrate antigen 125. We suspected malignancy according to the comprehensive preoperative evaluation, the postoperative pathology revealed an immature teratoma of the left ovary and complicated with gliomatosis peritonei. Three months after the second surgery, possible recurrence of immature teratoma was considered and the patient underwent the third laparotomy. But the postoperative pathology indicated mature teratoma and mature glial components in the pelvic lesions.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOME

The patient underwent 2 more surgical resections after the initial resection and 3 cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin regimen chemotherapy. She was regularly followed up in the outpatient after surgery, and no recurrence has been reported in the pelvic cavity till date.

LESSON

The case illuminated that the primary diagnosis of GP complicated with immature teratoma is critical but highly challenging for both gynecologists and pathologists and more attention should be paid to "GP complicated with immature cystic teratoma" patients to avoid inappropriate treatment.

Aggressive Gliomatosis Peritonei Arising from Ovarian Mature Teratoma with NF1 Mutation: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background

GP arising from ovarian mature teratoma is a rare disease, and no confirmed pathogenesis signature genes are reported. The progress of GP is seen as relatively slow. Rare aggressive GP cases with poor prognosis were reported and no guidelines to follow for treatment.

Case Presentation

Herein, we report a 17-year-old girl with a 3-year-history of GP arising from ovarian mature teratoma. Surgeries and drug therapy were used to treat the aggressively growing tumour. Genetic profiling revealed the pathogenic mutation with potential therapeutic approaches. We firstly reported the NF1 mutations in GP secondary to teratomas and may cause bad prognosis.

Conclusion

GP arising from ovarian mature teratoma is rare; we found NF1 mutation could be the trigger of GP. The study may provide new insights into a better understanding of this rare disease.

Growing Teratoma Syndrome and Gliomatosis Peritonei in a 15-Year-Old Girl With Immature Ovarian Teratoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Gliomatosis peritonei (GP) is a rare clinical condition characterized by presence of mature glial cells in the peritoneum. Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is described as an uncommon phenomenon that could be related to the incidence of non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. We report a case of a patient treated for immature ovarian teratoma, in whom both GP and GTS were observed, an association to date scarcely described in literature. A 15-year-old girl presented to the emergency department with severe pain in her lower abdomen and right lumbar region. Upon admission, concentration of α-fetoprotein (AFP) was 1500 ng/mL and β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) less than 2 ng/mL. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdominal cavity and pelvis confirmed the presence of an anomalous mass in the abdominal cavity and pelvis. Initial surgery was performed. Histopathology revealed the presence of immature teratoma with epithelial elements. Normalization of AFP was achieved within 8 weeks. Five months after surgery, a progressive increase in AFP was noted. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans of the pelvis minor showed local relapse. Evaluation of the remission after 2 blocks of preoperative chemotherapy revealed the presence of a large tumor mass in the pelvis minor, despite normalization of the AFP concentration. After opening the abdominal walls, numerous abnormal white nodules were observed in the peritoneum. Histopathology revealed the presence of mature glial tissue (gliomatosis peritonei). The remaining tumor mass was removed, and histopathology confirmed existence of mature teratoma (growing teratoma syndrome). Postoperative chemotherapy was continued. To date, the patient remains under clinical and laboratory remission. Concomitant incidence of GP and GTS, although rare, should always be taken into consideration in pediatric patients with diagnosis of either condition.

Multiregion exome sequencing of ovarian immature teratomas reveals 2N near-diploid genomes, paucity of somatic mutations, and extensive allelic imbalances shared across mature, immature, and disseminated components

Immature teratoma is a subtype of malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary that occurs most commonly in the first three decades of life, frequently with bilateral ovarian disease. Despite being the second most common malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary, little is known about its genetic underpinnings. Here we performed multiregion whole-exome sequencing to interrogate the genetic zygosity, clonal relationship, DNA copy number, and mutational status of 52 pathologically distinct tumor components from ten females with ovarian immature teratomas, with bilateral tumors present in five cases and peritoneal dissemination in seven cases. We found that ovarian immature teratomas are genetically characterized by 2N near-diploid genomes with extensive loss of heterozygosity and an absence of genes harboring recurrent somatic mutations or known oncogenic variants. All components within a single ovarian tumor (immature teratoma, mature teratoma with different histologic patterns of differentiation, and yolk sac tumor) were found to harbor an identical pattern of loss of heterozygosity across the genome, indicating a shared clonal origin. In contrast, the four analyzed bilateral teratomas showed distinct patterns of zygosity changes in the right versus left sided tumors, indicating independent clonal origins. All disseminated teratoma components within the peritoneum (including gliomatosis peritonei) shared a clonal pattern of loss of heterozygosity with either the right or left primary ovarian tumor. The observed genomic loss of heterozygosity patterns indicate that diverse meiotic errors contribute to the formation of ovarian immature teratomas, with 11 out of the 15 genetically distinct clones determined to result from nondisjunction errors during meiosis I or II. Overall, these findings suggest that copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity resulting from meiotic abnormalities may be sufficient to generate ovarian immature teratomas from germ cells.

Concurrent, Bilateral Presentation of Immature and Mature Ovarian Teratomas with Refractory Hyponatremia: A Case Report

We present the imaging and histopathological findings in a 32-year-old female who presented to the erectile dysfunction with progressively worsening abdominal pain over the past 2 months. Computed tomography abdomen and pelvis revealed bilateral ovarian teratomas, left significantly larger than right. There was associated fat stranding, mesenteric/omental stranding, and ascites worrisome for rupture versus peritoneal carcinomatosis. Histopathology confirmed a left immature teratoma (Grade 2), right mature teratoma, and peritoneal gliomatosis from possible tumor rupture before surgery.

Pure pediatric ovarian immature teratomas: The French experience

OBJECTIVE

To describe characteristics and outcome of pediatric ovarian immature teratomas (IT) to better define the place of chemotherapy.

METHODS

Children with ovarian IT enrolled in TGM95 and TGM2013 studies were analyzed. Norris grading and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system were used.

RESULTS

Thirty-six cases were identified with a median age of 11 years (range = 1-18): 35 of 36 stage I (17 stage IA, 13 stage IC, and 5 stage IX), including seven patients with gliomatosis peritonei (GP), and 1 stage IIIB (IT peritoneal implants). Centrally reviewed Norris grading was performed in 31 cases: 14 grade I and 17 grade II/III tumors. All patients underwent upfront surgery: 19 unilateral oophorectomy, 14 unilateral adnexectomy, 2 unilateral cystectomy, and 1 bilateral cystectomy. No extensive GP surgery was performed. Six patients received adjuvant vinblastin, bleomycin, and cisplatinum because of tumor rupture (n = 5, including two patients with GP) or stage III (n = 1). After a median follow-up of 39.5 months (range = 6-238), two events occurred 10 and 11 months after diagnosis: one bilateralization (initial stage IX, grade I) and one IT peritoneal relapse (initial stage IA, grade II), respectively. Both were successfully rescued by platinum-based chemotherapy and delayed surgery. No stage IC patients treated without adjuvant chemotherapy relapsed (four grade I and three grade III). None of the seven patients with GP progressed. Five-year event-free survival and overall survival were 94% (95% CI = 81-98%) and 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

The current series confirms the excellent prognosis of pediatric ovarian IT, arguing for conservative surgical approach in GP and against systematic adjuvant chemotherapy, even in ruptured tumors.

Diagnosis and management of growing teratoma syndrome after ovarian immature teratoma: A single center experience

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the diagnostic, surgical, and oncological outcomes of patients with growing teratoma syndrome (GTS).

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with ovarian immature teratoma (IMT) between 1980 and 2018 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) were evaluated for the development of GTS. Their clinical characteristics, surgical and pathological data, and oncological outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

Between 1980 and 2018, 175 cases of IMT were referred to PUMCH. Thirty-five patients subsequently developed GTS with a crude rate of approximately 20%. The median interval between the initial diagnosis of IMT and the first occurrence of GTS was 18.5 months (range, 6-78 months). Residual disease (P < 0.001) and gliomatosis peritonei (GP) at initial surgery (P = 0.023) were independent risk factors for GTS development. Fertility-sparing surgery for GTS was performed in 27 patients and four patients achieved five singleton pregnancies. The median follow-up time was 73 months (range, 11-401 months). Eleven patients developed at least one recurrence. Residual disease after GTS surgery was associated with GTS recurrence (P = 0.001). By the end of follow-up, 27 patients were alive without disease and the other eight patients were alive with disease.

CONCLUSION

The presence of residual disease and GP at initial surgery are risk factors for GTS. Complete surgical resection is the cornerstone for treatment of GTS. The presence of residual disease after surgery for GTS is a risk factor for GTS recurrence. Fertility-sparing surgery should be performed because spontaneous pregnancy is possible. The overall prognosis of GTS is excellent.

Immature Ovarian Teratoma: When to Give Adjuvant Therapy?

The question of giving or not adjuvant chemotherapy in pure ovarian immature teratomas (ITs) remains unsolved to date and illustrates differences in management between pediatric and adults oncologists. Because of the rarity of these tumors, this question has never been addressed through randomized trials. Standard of care for adult women with ovarian ITs is postoperative platinum based chemotherapy for all patients except FIGO stage IA, grade 1 tumors, whereas pediatric series concluded that surgery alone is curative for completely resected ovarian ITs, regardless of grade. Moreover the role of chemotherapy in incompletely resected tumors and its impact on the rate of malignant relapses needs to be better assessed. This emphasizes the urgent need for cooperation between adult and pediatric teams.

Pediatric Ovarian Growing Teratoma Syndrome

Ovarian immature teratoma is a germ cell tumor that comprises less than 1% of ovarian cancers and is treated with surgical debulking and chemotherapy depending on stage. Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is the phenomenon of the growth of mature teratoma elements with normal tumor markers during or following chemotherapy for treatment of a malignant germ cell tumor. These tumors are associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to invasive and compressive growth as well as potential for malignant transformation. Current treatment modality is surgical resection. We discuss a 12-year-old female who presented following resection of a pure ovarian immature teratoma (grade 3, FIGO stage IIIC). Following chemotherapy and resection of a pelvic/liver recurrence demonstrating mature teratoma, she underwent molecular genetics based chemotherapeutic treatment. No standardized management protocol has been established for the treatment of GTS. The effect of chemotherapeutic agents for decreasing the volume of and prevention of expansion is unknown. We review in detail the history, diagnostic algorithm, and previous reported pediatric cases as well as treatment options for pediatric patients with GTS.

18F FDG positron-emission tomography findings of gliomatosis peritonei: A case report and review of the literature

•

Gliomatosis peritonei (GP) is a rare benign complication of ovarian teratomas that does not impact overall survival.

•

GP exhibits high 18-F FDG uptake unlike other non-malignant forms of mature teratoma.

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The specific characteristics of GP on functional imaging may be used to follow it with active surveillance in select cases.

Gliomatosis peritonei: a series of eight cases and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Gliomatosis peritonei (GP) is a rare condition characterized by mature glial tissue implants widespread in the peritoneum. The GP is often associated with ovarian teratoma. However, little is known about the characteristics and prognosis of GP. The purpose of this study was to describe the features, treatment, and prognosis of GP. Additionally, we review previously reported cases of GP, summarizing the presently known data.

METHODS

From January 2000 to January 2016, cases of ovarian teratoma and GP treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were reviewed. We assessed the pathology, treatments, and outcomes along with prognostic information. Additionally, the literature regarding this clinical condition was also reviewed.

RESULTS

Eight patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients had a median age of 20 (range, 15-25) years. GP was diagnosed as the primary tumor in 6 patients and at a secondary surgery in two patients. The primary ovarian tumor consisted of immature teratoma (n = 7) and mature teratoma (n = 1). Grades of immature ovarian teratoma were 2, grade 1; 3, grade 2; and 2, grade 3. Tumors mean had a size of 20.4 (range, 11-30) cm. The median follow-up time was 60.5 (range, 3-144) months. All cases had conservative surgery and seven of them had macroscopic residual disease postoperatively. During the study period, the eight patients remained alive and asymptomatic. Three patients in the study experienced spontaneous pregnancy. After reviewing the existing literature, a total of 14 patients with nodal gliomatosis were present and 10 of them were alive. According to the literature review, five articles reported more than five cases. Of a total of 67 patients, 60 of them remained alive.

CONCLUSION

The prognosis of immature ovarian teratoma with GP is favorable. Complete resection of GP is often difficult. Residual peritoneal disease in GP can be asymptomatic and quiescent over a long period. A more conservative surgical approach may be carried out in patients with massive peritoneal spread after the presence of metastatic immature elements is excluded. Owing to the risk of recurrence and malignant transformation of GP, a long-term follow-up is necessary for patients with residual peritoneal disease.

Gliomatosis peritonei: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 21 cases

Gliomatosis peritonei, a rare condition often associated with immature ovarian teratoma, is characterized by the presence of mature glial tissue in the peritoneum. We retrospectively evaluated 21 patients with gliomatosis peritonei and studied their clinicopathologic features and immunophenotype. The patients' ages ranged from 5 to 42 years (median, 19 years). Their primary ovarian tumors consisted of immature teratoma (n=14), mixed germ cell tumors (n=6), and mature teratoma with a carcinoid tumor (n=1). Gliomatosis peritonei was diagnosed at the same time as primary ovarian neoplasm in 16 patients and secondary surgery in 5 patients. Also, 11 of 21 patients had metastatic immature teratoma (n=4), metastatic mature teratoma (n=2), or both (n=5). One patient developed glioma arising from gliomatosis peritonei. Seventeen patients had follow-up information and were alive with no evidence of disease (n=13), alive with disease (n=3), or alive with an unknown disease status (n=1). The follow-up durations ranged from 1 to 229 months (mean, 49 months; median, 23 months). Immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that SOX2 was expressed in all cases of gliomatosis peritonei and glioma with tissue available (nine of nine cases), whereas OCT4 and NANOG were negative in all cases with available tissue (eight of eight cases). In conclusion, both gliomatosis peritonei and glioma arising from it show a SOX2+/OCT4-/NANOG- immunophenotype. These findings demonstrated that gliomatosis peritonei is associated with favorable prognosis, although it is important to rule out potentially associated immature teratoma and malignant transformation. SOX2 may have an important role in the development of gliomatosis peritonei.

Gliomatosis Peritonei: A Particular Entity With Specific Outcomes Within the Growing Teratoma Syndrome

Objectives

Ovarian immature teratoma may be associated with peritoneal spread that could, after adjuvant chemotherapy, develop into disease exclusively composed of mature implants (growing teratoma syndrome) and/or gliomatosis peritonei (GP), defined as the presence of pure mature glial tissue. However, very few specific series are devoted to the outcomes of pure GP. This was the aim of the present study.

Patients

From 1997 to 2013, data concerning patients treated for stage II/III immature teratoma were reviewed. All slides were reviewed by an expert pathologist. Patients with ovarian cancer associated with peritoneal spread in the form of pure GP (initially if patients were treated without adjuvant treatment or after adjuvant chemotherapy if done) were analyzed.

Results

Ten patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The median age of patients at diagnosis was 36 years (range, 14–41 years). Six patients had undergone a conservative treatment. Five patients had macroscopic residual disease at the end of surgery.

The median duration of follow-up from the diagnosis of GP was 39 months (range, 6–114 months). Six patients had undergone secondary surgery. Among them, 5 had incompletely resected macroscopic GP. No patients had died of their disease. All patients were asymptomatic at the time of the last consultation (1 of them with abnormal radiologic imaging).

Conclusions

Gliomatosis peritonei is a particular entity of the condition described as growing teratoma syndrome because residual peritoneal disease can be asymptomatic totally stable over a long period which raises the question of a more conservative surgical approach in patients with massive peritoneal spread.