Skip to main content
Log in

Neoplasms in Struma Ovarii: A Review

  • Review
  • Published:
Endocrine Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Struma ovarii is a well-known ovarian teratoma made up of benign thyroid tissue. These lesions demonstrate variable, normal architecture and normal thyroid immunohistochemical staining with positivity for TTF1, PAX8, and thyroglobulin. Though most are benign, some of these lesions can also present with a malignant component. Within this article, we review the most common diagnostic malignancies including papillary thyroid carcinoma, strumal carcinoid, highly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma, and other thyroid carcinomas. We additionally review the use of TTF1 staining to assist in differentiating these lesions from surrounding gynecologic epithelium, which is imperative in making such diagnoses. In highlighting these entities, we hope to provide practicing pathologists with an effective and concise review of these lesions to assist in more challenging cases of struma ovarii.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of Data and Materials

Not applicable.

References

  1. Stewart CJR, Fukunaga M. Struma Ovarii. In: WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. Female genital tumours [Internet]. Lyon (France): International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2020 [cited 2023 March 10]. (WHO classification of tumours series, 5th ed.; vol. 4). Available from: https://tumourclassification.iarc.who.int/chapters/34

  2. Yoo SC, Chang KH, Lyu MO, Chang SJ, Ryu HS, Kim HS. Clinical characteristics of struma ovarii. J Gynecol Oncol. 2008 Jun;19(2):135–8. https://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2008.19.2.135. Epub 2008 Jun 20. PMID: 19471561; PMCID: PMC2676458.

  3. Devaney K, Snyder R, Norris HJ, Tavassoli FA. Proliferative and histologically malignant struma ovarii: a clinicopathologic study of 54 cases. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 1993 Oct;12(4):333-43. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004347-199310000-00008. PMID: 8253550.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. McCluggage WG, Young RH. Immunohistochemistry as a diagnostic aid in the evaluation of ovarian tumors. Semin Diagn Pathol. 2005 Feb;22(1):3-32. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.semdp.2005.11.002. PMID: 16512597.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Robboy SJ, Shaco-Levy R, Peng RY, Snyder MJ, Donahue J, Bentley RC, Bean S, Krigman HR, Roth LM, Young RH. Malignant struma ovarii: an analysis of 88 cases, including 27 with extraovarian spread. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2009 Sep;28(5):405-22. https://doi.org/10.1097/PGP.0b013e3181a27777. PMID: 19696610.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Jiang W, Lu X, Zhu ZL, Liu XS, Xu CJ. Struma ovarii associated with pseudo-Meigs’ syndrome and elevated serum CA 125: a case report and review of the literature. J Ovarian Res. 2010 Jul 29;3:18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-2215-3-18. PMID: 20670426; PMCID: PMC2923141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wei S, Baloch ZW, LiVolsi VA. Pathology of Struma Ovarii: A Report of 96 Cases. Endocr Pathol. 2015 Dec;26(4):342–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-015-9396-1. PMID: 26374222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cui Y, Yao J, Wang S, Zhao J, Dong J, Liao L. The Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Malignant Struma Ovarii: An Analysis of 144 Published Patients. Front Oncol. 2021 Mar 5;11:645156. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.645156. PMID: 33763376.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Leite I, Cunha TM, Figueiredo JP, Félix A. Papillary carcinoma arising in struma ovarii versus ovarian metastasis from primary thyroid carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature. J Radiol Case Rep. 2013 Oct 1;7(10):24–33. https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.v7i10.1593. PMID: 24421920; PMCID: PMC3888341.

  10. Logani S, Baloch ZW, Snyder PJ, Weinstein R, LiVolsi VA. Cystic ovarian metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report. Thyroid. 2001 Nov;11(11):1073-5. https://doi.org/10.1089/105072501753271789. PMID: 11762718.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Robboy SJ, Shaco-Levy R, Peng RY, Snyder MJ, Donahue J, Bentley RC, et al. Malignant Struma Ovarii: An Analysis of 88 Cases, Including 27 With Extraovarian Spread. International Journal of Gynecological Pathology. 2009 Sep;28(5):405. https://doi.org/10.1097/PGP.0b013e3181a27777. PMID: 19696610.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Shaco-Levy R, Peng RY, Snyder MJ, Osmond GW, Veras E, Bean SM, et al. Malignant Struma Ovarii: A Blinded Study of 86 Cases Assessing Which Histologic Features Correlate With Aggressive Clinical Behavior. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. 2012 Feb 1;136(2):172–8. https://doi.org/10.5858/arpa.2011-0092-OA. PMID: 22288964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Terayama N, Fujiwara S, Ueda S, Yamada T, Ohmichi M. Malignant struma ovarii with thyroid-type papillary and poorly differentiated carcinoma: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2022 Sep 30;16(1):348. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-022-03590-6. PMID: 36176008; PMCID: PMC9524032.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Li S, Kong S, Wang X, Zhang X, Yin M, Yang J. Survival Outcomes and Prognostic Predictors in Patients With Malignant Struma Ovarii. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:774691. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.774691. PMID: 35004743; PMCID: PMC8733601

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Li S, Yang T, Xiang Y, Li X, Zhang L, Deng S. Clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of malignant struma ovarii confined to the ovary. BMC Cancer. 2021 Apr 9;21(1):383. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08118-7. PMID: 33836675.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Rose PG, Arafah B, Abdul-Karim FW. Malignant struma ovarii: recurrence and response to treatment monitored by thyroglobulin levels. Gynecol Oncol. 1998 Sep;70(3):425–7. https://doi.org/10.1006/gyno.1998.5056. PMID: 9790800.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Matías-Guiu X, Forteza J, Prat J. Mixed strumal and mucinous carcinoid tumor of the ovary. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 1995 Apr;14(2):179–83. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004347-199504000-00013. PMID: 8601531.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kim NR, Ha SY, Shin JW, Lim S, Park CY, Cho HY. Primary ovarian mixed strumal and mucinous carcinoid arising in an ovarian mature cystic teratoma. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. 2016;42(2):211–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.12878. PMID: 26607856.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Quiñonez E, Schuldt M, Retamero JA, Nogales FF. Ovarian Strumal Carcinoid Containing Appendiceal-Type Mucinous Tumor Patterns Presenting as Pseudomyxoma Peritonei: International Journal of Gynecological Pathology. 2015 May;34(3):293–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/PGP.0000000000000138. PMID: 25760904.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hamazaki S, Okino T, Tsukayama C, Okada S. Expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 in strumal carcinoid and struma ovarii: An immunohistochemical study. Pathology International. 2002;52(7):458–62. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1827.2002.01370.x. PMID: 12167104.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhang X, Jones A, Jenkins SM, Huang Y. Ki67 Proliferative Index in Carcinoid Tumors Involving Ovary. Endocr Pathol. 2018 Mar 1;29(1):43–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-017-9510-7. PMID: 29349725.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Theurer S, Ingenwerth M, Herold T, Herrmann K, Schmid KW. Immunohistochemical Profile and 47-Gene Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Solid Tumor Panel Analysis of a Series of 13 Strumal Carcinoids. Endocr Pathol. 2020 Jun 1;31(2):101–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-020-09608-3. PMID: 32124226.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Dayal Y, Tashjian Jr. AH, Wolfe HJ. Immunocytochemical localization of calcitonin-producing cells in a strumal carcinoid with amyloid stroma. Cancer. 1979;43(4):1331–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(197904)43:4<1331::AID-CNCR2820430423>3.0.CO;2-4. PMID: 376090.

  24. Robboy SJ, Scully RE. Strumal carcinoid of the ovary: An analysis of 50 cases of a distinctive tumor composed of thyroid tissue and carcinoid. Cancer. 1980;46(9):2019–34. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(19801101)46:9<2019::AID-CNCR2820460921>3.0.CO;2-W. PMID: 7427909.

  25. Muller KE, Tafe LJ, Gonzalez JL, West LA, Schned AR. Ovarian strumal carcinoid producing peptide YY associated with severe constipation: a case report and review of the literature. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2015 Jan;34(1):30–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/PGP.0000000000000117. PMID: 25473750.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rutgers JL, Scully RE. Functioning ovarian tumors with peripheral steroid cell proliferation: a report of twenty-four cases. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 1986;5(4):319–37. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004347-198612000-00004. PMID: 3804558.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ashton MA. Strumal carcinoid of the ovary associated with hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia and cutaneous melanosis. Histopathology. 1995;27(5):463–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2559.1995.tb00311.x. PMID: 8575738.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang PJ, Gao HG, Pasha TL, Litzky L, Livolsi VA. TTF-1 expression in ovarian and uterine epithelial neoplasia and its potential significance, an immunohistochemical assessment with multiple monoclonal antibodies and different secondary detection systems. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2009 Jan;28(1):10-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/PGP.0b013e3181804bc6. PMID: 19047914.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Li S, Wang X, Sui X, Zhang X, Yin M, Yang J. Clinical characteristics and survival outcomes in patients with ovarian strumal carcinoid. BMC Cancer. 2022 Oct 24;22(1):1090.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Soga J, Osaka M, Yakuwa Y. Carcinoids of the ovary: an analysis of 329 reported cases. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2000 Sep;19(3):271–80.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Roth LM, Karseladze AI. Highly differentiated follicular carcinoma arising from struma ovarii: a report of 3 cases, a review of the literature, and a reassessment of so-called peritoneal strumosis. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2008 Apr;27(2):213-22. https://doi.org/10.1097/PGP.0b013e318158e958. PMID: 18317221.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Asaturova A, Magnaeva A, Tregubova A, Kometova V, Karamurzin Y, Martynov S, Lipatenkova Y, Adamyan L, Palicelli A. Malignant Clinical Course of “Proliferative” Ovarian Struma: Diagnostic Challenges and Treatment Pitfalls. Diagnostics (Basel). 2022 Jun 7;12(6):1411. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12061411. PMID: 35741221; PMCID: PMC9222151.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Niu HL, Pasha TL, Pawel BR, LiVolsi VA, Zhang PJ. Thyroid transcription factor-1 expression in normal gynecologic tissues and its potential significance. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2009 Jul;28(4):301-7. https://doi.org/10.1097/PGP.0b013e31819901c6. PMID: 19483637.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Ordóñez NG. Value of thyroid transcription factor-1 immunostaining in tumor diagnosis: a review and update. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2012 Oct;20(5):429-44. https://doi.org/10.1097/PAI.0b013e31825439bc. PMID: 22531688.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

No funding was received for this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

I.T. and C.S. contributed equally to the writing and image submission of this manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isabella Tondi Resta.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

Not applicable.

Competing Interest 

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tondi Resta, I., Sande, C.M. & LiVolsi, V.A. Neoplasms in Struma Ovarii: A Review. Endocr Pathol 34, 455–460 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-023-09789-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-023-09789-7

Keywords

Navigation