Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor with Myasthenia Gravis: Co-incidence or a Possible link?

Abstract

Teratomas are a common form of germ cell tumor. Teratomas are commonly found in the gonadal organs, such as the ovaries and testes. Treatment of choice for ovarian teratomas is complete surgical excision, which exhibits a good prognosis in benign teratomas; however, chemotherapy treatment is needed for malignant components. Neurological paraneoplastic presentation of gynecological tumors is rare; however, ovarian tumors account for 10% of this presentation. In literature, paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis, anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis, and paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration have been reported in ovarian teratomas and tumors; however, myasthenia gravis has been reported only twice. In both of those cases, manifestation of myasthenia gravis was preceding the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. We describe the first case of a 21-year-old female who presented with new-onset myasthenia gravis after finishing chemotherapy for ovarian teratoma. Another unusual aspect of our case is the rare co-occurrence of gliomatosis peritonei with mature teratoma.

Keywords

• ovarian teratoma, paraneoplastic presentation, myasthenia gravis, gliomatosis peritonei