Case report: ultrastructure of mature neurogenic implants from ovarian immature teratoma

An ultrastructural study of mature (grade O) neurogenic peritoneal implants from an ovarian immature teratoma grade I is presented. The presence of different types of neuroectodermal cells challenges the current terminology of this lesion, which implies a single proliferating cell type. The ultrastructural features were indicative of maturity in all cell lines and even the neurons exhibited well formed synapses. Marked cytoplasmic fibrillary change, similar to that found in central nervous system gliosis, was observed in the astrocytes. The ependymal cells had abnormal cilia with an altered configuration and number of microtubules.