Irene Pecorella

Prostatic tissue: an unexpected finding in a mature ovarian teratoma

Abstract Purpose Prostatic tissue in an ovarian teratoma is an unusual finding, whose initiation in a 46, XX karyotype tissue is yet to be clarified. We present a case from our files and review the literature for this intriguing finding. Methods Unstained histology sections of the ovarian teratoma containing prostatic tissue were evaluated using immunohistochemistry for PSA and androgen receptor. Results Both PSA and androgen receptor immunostainings were positive in the prostatic tissue. From the literature review, it appears that most of the patients (74%) with similar findings were either pregnant or experiencing a miscarriage, menopausal or infertile at presentation, showing that an imbalanced hormone status is frequently associated with the presence of male structures in ovarian teratomas.