A Common Tumor with an Unusual Finding: Mature Cystic Teratoma Containing a Ganglioneuroma.

Background: Ganglioneuromas (GNs) arise from peripheral or central areas of the autonomic nervous system, being benign lesions of neuroblastic origin.

Case: A 19-year-old Greek female patient was admitted to our clinic with symptoms of periodic lower abdominal pain and irritation since some months ago. Ultrasonography revealed a mass of 72 × 68 mm originating from the left ovary giving the characteristics of a typical dermoid cyst. Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy was done. The histological diagnosis revealed a mature cystic teratoma with a small hidden GN.

Summary And Conclusion: Histology remains the gold standard for their confirmation. The coexistence of GN within a mature cystic teratoma happens extremely rarely. This is one of the few cases reported in the literature.