Ovary
Tumor-like lesions
Large solitary luteinized follicular cyst of pregnancy and puerperium
Author: Shahid Islam, M.D., Ph.D.
Last author update: 1 June 2012
Last staff update: 16 October 2020
Copyright: 2002-2025, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Large solitary luteinized follicular cyst of pregnancy and puerperium
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Treatment | Gross description | Gross images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Differential diagnosis | Additional referencesCite this page: Islam S. Large solitary luteinized follicular cyst of pregnancy and puerperium. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/ovaryLSLFC.html. Accessed January 7th, 2025.
Definition / general
- Rare solitary follicular cyst that occurs during pregnancy and puerperium, may be related to hCG
- Palpable adnexal mass or seen at C section
- No clinical endocrine disturbance
Treatment
- Conservative, most regress during puerperium, may need to excise if symptomatic (Obstet Gynecol 2005;105:1218)
Gross description
- Large, solitary, unilocular cyst, resembles follicular cyst but markedly larger (median size - 25 cm)
Gross images
AFIP images
25 cm unilocular cyst
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Cyst lined by 1 or more layers of luteinized cells with clear to pink cytoplasm, no theca / granulosa distinction
- Focal nuclear atypia (enlarged, pleomorphic and hyperchromatic nuclei) is probably degenerative
- Also nests of luteinized cells within fibrous tissue of cyst wall (Pathol Res Pract 2006;202:471)
- May have a few mitotic figures (Diagn Pathol 2011;6:3)
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Raul S. Gonzalez, M.D.
Solitary luteinized follicle cyst
Images hosted on other servers:
Microscopic features of ovarian cyst
Histologic characteristics of ovarian cyst
Differential diagnosis
- Cystic ovarian neoplasm (low N/C ratio, sporadic atypia and clinical setting favor a solitary follicular cyst)
Additional references
