Dental elements in mature teratomas of the ovary: scanning electron microscope ultrastructure.

Seventy-two teeth from 10 ovarian mature teratomas and 12 unerupted and erupted teeth from subjects aged 8 to 21 years were examined at the scanning electron microscope to evaluate the morphologic and histogenetic differences. The ultrastructure of the teratomatous teeth was similar to that of the corresponding orthotopic tissues. Despite this similarity the morphology of the teratomatous teeth was much less well defined, attesting to the inductive effect of the contiguous tissues that are normally present in the oral cavity.