Omental mature cystic teratoma mimicking a mesenteric cyst: A case report

Abstract

Mature cystic teratomas (MCTs) arise from totipotent cells. While the ovaries are the most common sites, extragonadal teratomas are very rare. This case report describes the clinical details of a 20-year-old woman who was found to have a large pelvi-abdominal mass on clinical and imaging studies and elevated levels of CA-125. Because of the uncertainties of the origin of the mass, a multidisciplinary team suggested exploratory laparotomy with a mesenteric cyst as a differential diagnosis. Laparotomy showed both ovaries to be normal and revealed a large omental MCT, which was excised. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis.