A Calcified Retroperitoneal Teratoma in a Postmenopausal Woman

Abstract

Background:

This article describes a very rare entity—a mature cystic teratoma occurring in the retroperitoneum in a postmenopausal patient, which is also a rare age for this presentation.

Case:

A 51-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with a history of low-back pain that radiated to a lower limb. During her evaluation, a mature cystic teratoma was found in the retroperitoneal region with calcification. She was operated on to remove adhesions that she had and to remove the teratoma.

Results:

This patient's low-back pain was resolved after her operation.

Conclusions:

Although rare, a retroperitoneal teratoma can present in postmenopause, usually in a patient with nonspecific complaints. At this age of presentation, malignancy should always be ruled out by surgical excision and careful histologic examination of the excised specimen.