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Dermoid cyst differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Soujanya Thummathati, MBBS [2]

Overview

Dermoid cyst must be differentiated from teratoma, as well as other common benign tumors that develop in the head and neck, ovaries, or spine (such as pilar cysts, steatocystoma, pilomatrixoma, encephalocele, vascular malformations, lipoleiomyoma, pilonidal cyst, and lipoma).[1][2][3][3][4]

Differential Diagnosis

Head and Neck

Dermoid cysts of head and neck must be differentiated from the following:[1][2]

Ovarian Dermoid Cysts


Diseases Clinical manifestations Para-clinical findings Gold standard Additional findings
Age of onset Symptoms Physical examination
Lab Findings Imaging Immunohistopathology
Pelvic/abdominal pain or pressure Vaginal bleeding/discharge GI dysturbance Fever Tenderness CT scan/US MRI
Gynecologic
Ovarian Dermoid cyst
[5] 		+/– – – – +/–
  • cyst with no internal echo and with posterior acoustic enhancement
  • NA
Follicular cysts
[5] 		+/– – – – +/–
  • In US we may see a >3 cm simple cyst with no internal echo and with posterior acoustic enhancement
  • NA
Theca lutein cysts
[6][7][8] 		+/– – – – +/–
Serous cystadenoma/carcinoma
[9][10][11][12]
  • >55 y/o
 +/– – – – +/–
  • In US we may see simple or multiloculated cyst
  • In serous cystadenocarcinoma we may see papillary projection inside the cyst
  • In serous cystadenocarcinoma we may see ascites
  • We may see a simple cyst with beak sign, hypointense on T1 and hyperintense on T2
  • We may see some Solid malignant components inside the cyst with intermediate signal on T1 and T2
Mucinous cystadenoma/carcinoma
[13][14][15]
  • >55 y/o
 +/– – – – +/–
  • Stained glass appearance due to variable signal intensity on T1 and T2
  • The more mucin we have, there is more intensity on T1
  • and less intensity on T2
Endometrioma
[16][17][18] 		+ + +/– – +
  • hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and a hypointensity on T2-weighted images
  • Powder burn hemorrhages
Teratoma
[19][20][21][22]
  • 10-30 y/o
 +/– – – – +/–
  • We may see evidence of fat components
Dysgerminoma
[23][24]
  • in the second to third decade of life
 + +/– – – +/–
  • We may see ovarian mass with septation which are hyperintense on T1 and hypo or isointense on T2 imaging
  • Sheets fried egg appearance cells
Yolk sac tumor
[25][26][27] 		+ – – – +
  • High levels of AFP
  • In US we may see a combination of echogenic and hypoechoic components
  • Yellow appearance
  • Schiller-Duval bodies (glomeruli like structures)
Fibroma
[28][29][30]
  • >50 y/o
  • Pulling sensation in the groin
 – – – +/–
  • In CT scan we may see a unilateral mass with poor contrast enhancement
  • Low signal intensity on T1 and T2
Thecoma
[31][32][33]
  • >50 y/o
 +/– – – –
Granulosa cell tumor
[34][35][36][37]
  • 50-60 y/o
 + +/– – –
Sertoli-leydig cell tumor
[38][39]
  • 15 to 35 y/o
 +/– – – – –
  • In US we may see unilateral Well-defined hypoechoic lesion
  • Low T2 signal intensity
  • areas of high signal intensity
Brenner tumor
[40][41]
  • >55 y/o
 +/– – – – – –
  • Hypointense on T2 because of fibrous content
  • Most of the times it’s an accidental finding
Krukenberg tumor
[42][43]
  • >55 y/o
 +/– – +/–

Based on underlying malignancy

– –

Spinal Dermoid Cysts

Others

Dermoid cysts must also be differentiated from the following:[44]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ohta N, Watanabe T, Ito T, Kubota T, Suzuki Y, Ishida A; et al. (2012). “A case of sublingual dermoid cyst: extending the limits of the oral approach”. Case Rep Otolaryngol. 2012: 634949. doi:10.1155/2012/634949. PMC 3465894. PMID 23056976.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dermoid cyst. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermoid_cyst Accessed on February 4, 2016.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sharma M, Mally R, Velho V (2013). “Ruptured conus medullaris dermoid cyst with fat droplets in the central canal [corrected]”. Asian Spine J. 7 (1): 50–4. doi:10.4184/asj.2013.7.1.50. PMC 3596585. PMID 23508636.
  4. ↑ Intracranial dermoid cyst. Radiopaedia.org. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/intracranial-dermoid-cyst-1 Accessed on February 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Levine D, Brown DL, Andreotti RF, Benacerraf B, Benson CB, Brewster WR, Coleman B, Depriest P, Doubilet PM, Goldstein SR, Hamper UM, Hecht JL, Horrow M, Hur HC, Marnach M, Patel MD, Platt LD, Puscheck E, Smith-Bindman R (September 2010). “Management of asymptomatic ovarian and other adnexal cysts imaged at US: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Conference Statement”. Radiology. 256 (3): 943–54. doi:10.1148/radiol.10100213. PMID 20505067.
  6. ↑ Montz FJ, Schlaerth JB, Morrow CP (August 1988). “The natural history of theca lutein cysts”. Obstet Gynecol. 72 (2): 247–51. PMID 2455880.
  7. ↑ Southam, Anna L. (1962). “Massive Ovarian Hyperstimulation with Clomiphene Citrate”. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. 181 (5): 443. doi:10.1001/jama.1962.03050310083018b. ISSN 0098-7484.
  8. ↑ Nguyen, K T; Reid, R L; Sauerbrei, E (1986). “Antenatal sonographic detection of a fetal theca lutein cyst: a clue to maternal diabetes mellitus”. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 5 (11): 665–667. doi:10.7863/jum.1986.5.11.665. ISSN 0278-4297.
  9. ↑ Jung, Seung Eun; Lee, Jae Mun; Rha, Sung Eun; Byun, Jae Young; Jung, Jung Im; Hahn, Seong Tai (2002). “CT and MR Imaging of Ovarian Tumors with Emphasis on Differential Diagnosis”. RadioGraphics. 22 (6): 1305–1325. doi:10.1148/rg.226025033. ISSN 0271-5333.
  10. ↑ Imai, Shunsuke; Kiyozuka, Yasuhiko; Maeda, Hiroko; Noda, Tuneo; Hosick, Howard L. (1990). “Establishment and Characterization of a Human Ovarian Serous Cystadenocarcinoma Cell Line That Produces the Tumor Markers CA-125 and Tissue Polypeptide Antigen”. Oncology. 47 (2): 177–184. doi:10.1159/000226813. ISSN 0030-2414.
  11. ↑ Malpica A, Deavers MT, Lu K, Bodurka DC, Atkinson EN, Gershenson DM, Silva EG (April 2004). “Grading ovarian serous carcinoma using a two-tier system”. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 28 (4): 496–504. PMID 15087669.
  12. ↑ Li J, Fadare O, Xiang L, Kong B, Zheng W (March 2012). “Ovarian serous carcinoma: recent concepts on its origin and carcinogenesis”. J Hematol Oncol. 5: 8. doi:10.1186/1756-8722-5-8. PMID 22405464.
  13. ↑ Hoerl HD, Hart WR (December 1998). “Primary ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinomas: a clinicopathologic study of 49 cases with long-term follow-up”. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 22 (12): 1449–62. PMID 9850171.
  14. ↑ Lee KR, Scully RE (November 2000). “Mucinous tumors of the ovary: a clinicopathologic study of 196 borderline tumors (of intestinal type) and carcinomas, including an evaluation of 11 cases with ‘pseudomyxoma peritonei‘“. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 24 (11): 1447–64. PMID 11075847.
  15. ↑ Jung, Seung Eun; Lee, Jae Mun; Rha, Sung Eun; Byun, Jae Young; Jung, Jung Im; Hahn, Seong Tai (2002). “CT and MR Imaging of Ovarian Tumors with Emphasis on Differential Diagnosis”. RadioGraphics. 22 (6): 1305–1325. doi:10.1148/rg.226025033. ISSN 0271-5333.
  16. ↑ Mol BW, Bayram N, Lijmer JG, Wiegerinck MA, Bongers MY, van der Veen F, Bossuyt PM (December 1998). “The performance of CA-125 measurement in the detection of endometriosis: a meta-analysis”. Fertil. Steril. 70 (6): 1101–8. PMID 9848302.
  17. ↑ Kinkel, Karen; Frei, Kathrin A.; Balleyguier, Corinne; Chapron, Charles (2005). “Diagnosis of endometriosis with imaging: a review”. European Radiology. 16 (2): 285–298. doi:10.1007/s00330-005-2882-y. ISSN 0938-7994.
  18. ↑ de Ziegler, Dominique; Borghese, Bruno; Chapron, Charles (2010). “Endometriosis and infertility: pathophysiology and management”. The Lancet. 376 (9742): 730–738. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60490-4. ISSN 0140-6736.
  19. ↑ Kawai, Michiyasu; Kano, Takeo; Kikkawa, Fumitaka; Morikawa, Yoshimitsu; Oguchi, Hidenori; Nakashima, Nobuo; Ishizuka, Takao; Kuzuya, Kazuo; Ohta, Masahiro; Arii, Yoshitaro; Tomoda, Yutaka (1992). “Seven tumor markers in benign and malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary”. Gynecologic Oncology. 45 (3): 248–253. doi:10.1016/0090-8258(92)90299-X. ISSN 0090-8258.
  20. ↑ Dunzendorfer, Thomas; deLAS MORENAS, ANTONIO; Kalir, Tamara; Levin, Robert M. (1999). “Struma Ovarii and Hyperthyroidism”. Thyroid. 9 (5): 499–502. doi:10.1089/thy.1999.9.499. ISSN 1050-7256.
  21. ↑ Outwater, Eric K.; Siegelman, Evan S.; Hunt, Jennifer L. (2001). “Ovarian Teratomas: Tumor Types and Imaging Characteristics”. RadioGraphics. 21 (2): 475–490. doi:10.1148/radiographics.21.2.g01mr09475. ISSN 0271-5333.
  22. ↑ Saba, Luca; Guerriero, Stefano; Sulcis, Rosa; Virgilio, Bruna; Melis, GianBenedetto; Mallarini, Giorgio (2009). “Mature and immature ovarian teratomas: CT, US and MR imaging characteristics”. European Journal of Radiology. 72 (3): 454–463. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2008.07.044. ISSN 0720-048X.
  23. ↑ Dgani, R.; Shoham(Schwartz), Z.; Czernobilsky, B.; Kaftori, A.; Borenstein, R.; Lancet, M. (1988). “Lactic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and human chorionic gonadotropin in a pure ovarian dysgerminoma”. Gynecologic Oncology. 30 (1): 44–50. doi:10.1016/0090-8258(88)90044-3. ISSN 0090-8258.
  24. ↑ Tanaka YO, Kurosaki Y, Nishida M, Michishita N, Kuramoto K, Itai Y, Kubo T (1994). “Ovarian dysgerminoma: MR and CT appearance”. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 18 (3): 443–8. PMID 8188914.
  25. ↑ Yang, Grace C.H. (2000). “Fine-needle aspiration cytology of Schiller-Duval bodies of yolk-sac tumor”. Diagnostic Cytopathology. 23 (4): 228–232. doi:10.1002/1097-0339(200010)23:4<228::AID-DC2>3.0.CO;2-M. ISSN 8755-1039.
  26. ↑ Levitin, A; Haller, K D; Cohen, H L; Zinn, D L; O’Connor, M T (1996). “Endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary: imaging evaluation”. American Journal of Roentgenology. 167 (3): 791–793. doi:10.2214/ajr.167.3.8751702. ISSN 0361-803X.
  27. ↑ Talerman, A.; Haije, W. G. (1974). “Alpha-fetoprotein and germ cell tumors: A possible role of yolk sac tumor in production of alpha-fetoprotein”. Cancer. 34 (5): 1722–1726. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(197411)34:5<1722::AID-CNCR2820340521>3.0.CO;2-F. ISSN 0008-543X.
  28. ↑ MEIGS JV (May 1954). “Fibroma of the ovary with ascites and hydrothorax; Meigs’ syndrome”. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 67 (5): 962–85. PMID 13148256.
  29. ↑ Sivanesaratnam, V.; Dutta, R.; Jayalakshmi, P. (1990). “Ovarian fibroma – clinical and histopathological characteristics”. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 33 (3): 243–247. doi:10.1016/0020-7292(90)90009-A. ISSN 0020-7292.
  30. ↑ Abad, Antonio; Cazorla, Eduardo; Ruiz, Fernando; Aznar, Ismael; Asins, Enrique; Llixiona, Joaquin (1999). “Meigs’ syndrome with elevated CA125: case report and review of the literature”. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 82 (1): 97–99. doi:10.1016/S0301-2115(98)00174-2. ISSN 0301-2115.
  31. ↑ Yaghoobian, Jahanguir; Pinck, Robert L. (1983). “Ultrasound findings in thecoma of the ovary”. Journal of Clinical Ultrasound. 11 (2): 91–93. doi:10.1002/jcu.1870110207. ISSN 0091-2751.
  32. ↑ Li, Xinchun; Zhang, Weidong; Zhu, Guangbin; Sun, Congpeng; Liu, Qingyu; Shen, Yuechun (2012). “Imaging Features and Pathologic Characteristics of Ovarian Thecoma”. Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography. 36 (1): 46–53. doi:10.1097/RCT.0b013e31823f6186. ISSN 0363-8715.
  33. ↑ Proctor, Francis E.; Greeley, Joseph P.; Rathmell, Thomas K. (1951). “Malignant thecoma of the ovary”. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 62 (1): 185–192. doi:10.1016/0002-9378(51)91109-X. ISSN 0002-9378.
  34. ↑ Pectasides D, Pectasides E, Psyrri A (February 2008). “Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary”. Cancer Treat. Rev. 34 (1): 1–12. doi:10.1016/j.ctrv.2007.08.007. PMID 17945423.
  35. ↑ Stenwig, Jan Trygve; Hazekamp, Johan The.; Beecham, Jackson B. (1979). “Granulosa cell tumors of the ovary. A clinicopathological study of 118 cases with long-term follow-up”. Gynecologic Oncology. 7 (2): 136–152. doi:10.1016/0090-8258(79)90090-8. ISSN 0090-8258.
  36. ↑ Morikawa K, Hatabu H, Togashi K, Kataoka ML, Mori T, Konishi J (1997). “Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary: MR findings”. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 21 (6): 1001–4. PMID 9386298.
  37. ↑ Ko SF, Wan YL, Ng SH, Lee TY, Lin JW, Chen WJ, Kung FT, Tsai CC (May 1999). “Adult ovarian granulosa cell tumors: spectrum of sonographic and CT findings with pathologic correlation”. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 172 (5): 1227–33. doi:10.2214/ajr.172.5.10227493. PMID 10227493.
  38. ↑ Lantzsch, T.; Stoerer, S.; Lawrenz, K.; Buchmann, J.; Strauss, H.-G.; Koelbl, H. (2001). “Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor”. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 264 (4): 206–208. doi:10.1007/s004040000114. ISSN 0932-0067.
  39. ↑ Jung, Seung Eun; Rha, Sung Eun; Lee, Jae Mun; Park, Soo Youn; Oh, Soon Nam; Cho, Kyoung Sik; Lee, Eun Ju; Byun, Jae Young; Hahn, Seong Tai (2005). “CT and MRI Findings of Sex Cord–Stromal Tumor of the Ovary”. American Journal of Roentgenology. 185 (1): 207–215. doi:10.2214/ajr.185.1.01850207. ISSN 0361-803X.
  40. ↑ Shevchuk, Maria M.; Fenoglio, Cecilia M.; Richart, Ralph M. (1980). “Histogenesis of brenner tumors, I: Histology and ultrastructure”. Cancer. 46 (12): 2607–2616. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(19801215)46:12<2607::AID-CNCR2820461213>3.0.CO;2-Q. ISSN 0008-543X.
  41. ↑ Outwater, Eric K; Siegelman, Evan S; Kim, Bohyun; Chiowanich, Peerapod; Blasbalg, Roberto; Kilger, Alex (1998). “Ovarian Brenner tumors: MR imaging characteristics”. Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 16 (10): 1147–1153. doi:10.1016/S0730-725X(98)00136-2. ISSN 0730-725X.
  42. ↑ Kim SH, Kim WH, Park KJ, Lee JK, Kim JS (1996). “CT and MR findings of Krukenberg tumors: comparison with primary ovarian tumors”. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 20 (3): 393–8. PMID 8626898.
  43. ↑ Al-Agha OM, Nicastri AD (November 2006). “An in-depth look at Krukenberg tumor: an overview”. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 130 (11): 1725–30. doi:10.1043/1543-2165(2006)130[1725:AILAKT]2.0.CO;2. PMID 17076540.
  44. ↑ Intracranial dermoid cyst. Radiopaedia.org. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/intracranial-dermoid-cyst-1 Accessed on February 5, 2016.


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