An ovarian teratoma of late Roman age

We report here a very unusual pelvic calcification recovered from the remains of a 30-40-year-old woman found at the late Roman period archeological site of La Fogonussa (Lleida, Catalonia). Although differential diagnoses for calcifications of the pelvis are complicated in archeological contexts, the precise localization, macroscopic features, and the presence of teeth along with part of a small bone led us to identify this case as an ovarian teratoma, based upon gross observations and computerized tomography (CT).

► This female skeleton from late Roman period in Catalonia (Spain) is the first reported case of ancient ovarian teratoma.
► The skeleton was discovered archeologically with a round small calcified mass in the pelvic region.
► This is an extraordinary case, due to both its antiquity and its rare condition.