title: Spontaneous rupture of benign ovarian cystic teratoma in a premenarcheal girl.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous rupture of benign cystic ovarian teratoma is an unusual occurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 9-year-old girl presented with acute onset of abdominal pain. Under a radiological diagnosis of cystic ovarian teratoma, she underwent laparoscopic cystectomy, preserving as much ovarian tissue as possible. Direct observation of a defect on the tumor surface and the presence of keratinized squamous cells in the ascites were important clues for intraperitoneal rupture. Pathologically, the defect was surrounded by inflamed tissues adjacent to the gastric mucosa, suggesting that autolysis of the wall by proteolytic enzymes induced the spontaneous rupture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present the youngest and first premenarcheal case of spontaneous rupture of cystic ovarian teratoma. Early diagnosis and minimally invasive surgical procedure are essential to preserve future fertility.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Japan. lisa-gaspard@hi-net.zaq.ne.jp
authors: Aya
authors: A
authors: Iwata
authors: Kousaku
authors: K
authors: Matsubara
authors: Yumiko
authors: Y
authors: Umemoto
authors: Kimio
authors: K
authors: Hashimoto
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Fukaya
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013724:Teratoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery