Rare Struma Ovarii Variant of Incidental Ovarian Dermoid Cyst in a Cadaveric Donor: A Case Report

Post-operative adhesion is a common complication of abdominopelvic surgical procedures, including a hysterectomy. However, little is known about post-surgical tissue growths, atypical of fibrous adhesions. This case study evaluates a hysterectomized 80-year-old female anatomical donor who revealed intra-abdominal adhesions and bilateral abnormal tissue adnexal masses upon dissection and seeks to evaluate the causes of these abnormalities and potential consequences. Histologic analysis of the bilateral masses determined atrophied ovarian stromal tissue with a mature teratoma composed of respiratory epithelium and thyroid glandular tissue, consistent with struma ovarii, found in the left mass. Additional pathological findings included a proximally elongated rectum measuring 21.5 cm, a visible adhesion attaching a portion of sigmoid colon to the pelvic cavity wall, a section of sigmoid megacolon, and bilateral, smooth adipose herniations through the left and right superficial inguinal rings measuring 3.6 cm (left hernia) and 4.7 cm (right hernia). While intra-abdominal adhesions represent a major cause of post-operative complications following a hysterectomy, additional research is required on cases of teratoma complications by extensive pelvic fibrosis and the potential for active thyroid tissue in teratomas, causing death related to hypertension. The results of this case study contribute to the understanding of post-hysterectomy complications and incidental findings, aiming to do so through gross examination and histopathological analysis to better elucidate the etiology.