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Rare Case of Bilateral Dermoid Cysts Managed Laparoscopically

Author Information 

Shah NH *,  Shah VN **, Paranjpe SH ***
(* Hon. Endosopic Surgeon Wadia Hospital & Railway Hospital, Byculla, ** Anesthesiologist, *** Director: Velankar Hospital & Paranjpe Maternity Home, Chembur, Mumbai, India.)

Abstract 

Mature cystic teratomas are mostly benign. 0.1-0.2% of cases may undergo malignant transformation. They are usually asymptomatic but sometimes may present with acute abdomen due to torsion of cyst, infection, or cyst rupture. Here we present a case of a 23 year old woman non gravid with previous one abortion who came to us with lower abdominal pain for last 6 months, with bilateral dermoid cysts of ovary, which is a rare presentation. Both the dermoid cysts were enucleated laparoscopically and placed in an endobag and retrieved by morcellation. Six month follow up showed no evidence of recurrence.

Introduction 

An ovarian dermoid cyst or a benign cystic mature teratoma is a benign tumor arising from the germinal cells.[1] In approximately 80 % of the cases, it occurs in young women  aged 20 to 30 years and accounts for 18% of all benign ovarian tumors. Most of the time, dermoid cysts are unilateral, but they are bilateral in 10 to 15% of cases.[2] Laparotomy  has  been   the  preferred  procedure  for  the  management  of  dermoid  cysts because  of  the  risk  of  chemical  peritonitis  occuring  from spillage of its contents.[3] We have done morcellation  in  an  endobag,  which  preserves  the  benefits of the laparoscopic  approach while maintaining  the safety of non spillage of contents as achieved in a laparotomy.

Case Report 

A  23 year old  non gravid woman with previous one abortion presented to us with pain in the  lower abdomen for the past 6 months. The pain was as dull  aching, non radiating. There was  no  associated  vaginal  discharge, increased urinary frequency, fever, or bowel symptoms. Her  menses  were regular with a 30 day cycle,  and  no  history  of  associated dysmenorrhea  or  menorrhagia. No significant medical or surgical history was present. On examination, her abdomen was soft with no guarding, rigidity or tenderness. Per speculum examination showed no   vaginal discharge. Per vaginal  examination  showed a normal-sized uterus with bilateral adnexal masses of 5 x 4 cm on the left and 4 x 6 cm on the right. The ultrasound scan was suggestive of a bilateral dermoid cyst. The  uterus was normal (58 x 32 x 29 mm) with endometrial thickness of   8 mm. All preoperative investigations including CA 125 were within normal limits.  
A laparoscopic bilateral cystectomy was done with “in bag” morcellation. Histopathology report confirmed mature cystic teratomas. A 6 months follow-up of this patient was done and there was no recurrence or any signs of granulomatous peritonitis, and she had regular menses after surgery.


Figure 1. Bilateral dermoid cysts seen.


Figure 2. After enucleation of the dermoid cysts.

Discussion 

Dermoid cysts may be formed by elements arising from all three of the germinal  layers, but in ovarian dermoids, ectodermic discrimination frequently occurs. Usually, the diameter of an ovarian dermoid is <10 cm and is rarely >15 cm. On histology, lipidic substance, hair, sebaceous secretions, hair follicles, and bone calcifications are seen in half of the cases; organoid morphology (teeth, bone) are seen in 30% of the cases. [3] Surti et al [4] theorized 5 mechanisms of origin of a dermoid cyst which were: 
Error of meiosis 1
Error of meiosis 2 
End reduplication of an haploid egg cell
Premiotic  germ cell undergoing mitotic division
Fusion of two ova.
This being said, the few bilateral cases which had been studied, did not show preponderance of any mechanism.
Usually, the symptoms arise severely with pelvic pain, and in a few of the cases, the symptoms are related with menstrual irregularities. Torsion is the most common complication, whereas rupture and infection are rare.[5] Malignant transformation occurs in 1 to 2% of the cases, commonly arising from squamous epithelial cells. The diagnosis of ovarian dermoid can be made confidently on an ultrasound.  In one study, experienced radiologists achieved 100 % positive predictive value in cases where ≥ 2 characteristic sonographic features were present.[6] It has also been reported that women with bilateral or multiple dermoid cysts have more predisposition for development of ovarian germ cell neoplasms in later life.[7]
Literature suggests that dermoid cysts be removed by laparotomy only, because of the presence of the risk of spillage of sebaceous and hairy material in the peritoneum, causing granulomatous peritonitis in some cases. As of now, laparoscopic management of a dermoid cyst with a morcellation bag is considered a safe option. 
The only concern is the skill of the operating surgeon. In the presence of a skilled laparoscopic surgeon, appropriately assisted by well-trained assistants, the procedure maintains the basic conventions of the abdominal approach. Furthermore, reduced tissue handling and drying, which is distinctive  in laparoscopy, may contribute to reducing adhesion formation after laparoscopy. However in case intra- operative spillage occurs, cyst contents should be removed immediately from the peritoneal cavity and repeated washing and aspiration should be done.[8]
To conclude, laparoscopic management of bilateral, mature cystic teratomas by  an  experienced  surgeon could yield results as good as laparotomy.

References
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  2. Outwater EK, Siegelman ES, Hunt JL. Ovarian teratomas: Tumor types and imaging characteristics. Radiographics. 2001; 21(2):475-90.
  3. Campo S, Garcea N. Laparoscopic conservative excision of ovarian dermoid cysts with or without an endobag. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc.1998; 5(2):165–70.
  4. Surti U, Hoffner L, Chakravarti A, Ferrell RE. Genetics and biology of human ovarian teratomas. I. Cytogenetic analysis and mechanism of origin. Am J Hum Genet. 1990; 47(4): 635–43
  5. Comerci JT Jr, Licciardi F, Bergh PA, Gregori C, Breen JL. Mature cystic teratoma: a clinicopathologic evaluation of 517 cases and review of the literature. Obstet Gynecol. 1994; 84(1):22–8.
  6. Patel MD, Feldstein VA, Lipson SD, Chen DC, Filly RA. Cystic teratomas of the ovary: diagnostic value of sonography. AJR Am J Roentgenol.1998;171(4):1061-1065.
  7. Anteby EY, Ron M, Revel A, Shimonovitz S, Ariel I, Hurwitz A. Germ cell tumors of the ovary arising after dermoid cyst resection: a long term follow up study. Obstet Gynecol.1994; 83(4): 605–8.
  8. Sinha RY, Joshi K, Warty NR, Frey B. Morcellation in the bag: the superior solution  to  avoid  spillage. Gynaecol Endosc. 2001; 9:103–6.
Citation

Shah NH,  Shah VN, Paranjpe SH. Rare Case of Bilateral Dermoid Cysts Managed Laparoscopically. JPGO 2015. Volume 3 No. 5. Available from: http://www.jpgo.org/2016/05/rare-case-of-bilateral-dermoid-cysts.html