Sebaceous tumors arising in ovarian dermoid cysts.

The clinicopathologic features of five cases of sebaceous tumors arising in ovarian dermoid cysts and of three previously reported cases are reviewed. They occurred in women with an average age of 58 years and were classified as sebaceous adenoma (five cases), basal cell carcinoma with sebaceous differentiation (two cases), and sebaceous carcinoma (one case). Follow-up information was available for all cases. One patient with basal cell carcinoma with sebaceous differentiation had a pelvic recurrence 2 1/2 years after diagnosis. In no other case did the sebaceous tumor recur or metastasize during follow-up periods of 1 to 6 years. One patient died of a squamous cell carcinoma that arose in the same dermoid cyst as the sebaceous tumor. These tumors represent a rare form of monodermal neoplasia in dermoid cysts.