A dermoid cyst, also called a mature cystic teratoma, is a benign ovarian tumor that arises from germ cells and can contain a variety of tissue types, including hair, fat, bone, teeth, and skin. It is one of the most common ovarian tumors in young women. On ultrasound, dermoid cysts have a highly variable but often recognizable appearance, frequently showing a complex mass with areas of solid and cystic components, fat-fluid levels, bright echogenic foci from calcifications or teeth, and acoustic shadowing. The combination of these features, sometimes described as a tip-of-the-iceberg sign, is fairly distinctive and helps differentiate dermoid cysts from other ovarian masses.
Sonography Term