Gliomatosis Peritonei

Comments:
This is a rare condition in which the peritoneal cavity contains nodules of mature glial tissue. It is usually seen in association with a solid ovarian teratoma that shows evidence of rupture. Leakage of gliomatous tissue from the teratoma into the abdominal cavity is thought to be the underlying mechanism for this lesion. However, recent studies have suggested that glial tissue can also arise by metaplasia of pluripotential peritoneal stem cells found in the submesothelial tissues. This low power scan shows numerous glial nodules embedded within omental fat.