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Teratoma
Will teratoma recur after resection?
Teratomas in ovarian cysts are a type that can recur after surgery. After surgery, teratomas require close monitoring, and if recurrence occurs, reoperation for removal is necessary. Therefore, regular gynecological ultrasound post-surgery is key to confirm whether the teratoma has recurred. It is recommended that patients undergo regular gynecological ultrasound examinations at their local hospital after surgery, and if a recurrence of the teratoma occurs, seeking medical attention promptly is crucial.
Why does a teratoma have hair?
Mature teratomas contain lipids, hair, and even bone and other tissue structures within the tumor cavity. The main reason for this is that teratomas are composed of cells from multiple embryonic layers. These embryonic layer cells can develop in different directions, further developing into tissues such as hair, lipids, or bones. Therefore, during surgical procedures, it is common to find hair within the teratoma.
What are the symptoms of teratoma?
Ovarian teratomas can cause abdominal pain and might even result in sudden abdominal enlargement, often accompanied by symptoms like bloating. Women experiencing these symptoms are advised to seek medical attention promptly. Ovarian teratomas are more commonly found in younger women, particularly during their reproductive years. Thus, female patients experiencing these symptoms should promptly undergo an ultrasound at a hospital to check for the presence of teratomas and also have a blood test for tumor markers. If a teratoma is present, it is recommended to undergo surgical treatment as soon as possible due to the risk of malignant transformation.
Can women with ovarian teratomas have children?
Ovarian teratomas, if discovered after pregnancy, do not significantly impact the child; however, it's crucial to confirm that the ovarian teratoma is benign. If detected during pregnancy, close observation is possible, and sudden lower abdominal pain may indicate ovarian torsion, which requires timely surgical intervention. If there are no symptoms, surgery can wait until after the child is born. If an ovarian teratoma is discovered before pregnancy, it is advisable to undergo surgery before becoming pregnant because ovarian teratomas can sometimes be malignant, and torsion may occur during pregnancy, which could affect the child.
Does ovarian teratoma affect the fetus?
Ovarian teratoma is a type of gynecological disease, originating from germ cells, and is a relatively common type of ovarian germ cell tumor. It can be divided into mature teratomas and immature teratomas. As for the impact of ovarian teratomas on the fetus, it depends on the size and type of the teratoma, as well as the parts it involves, especially teratomas of the testes and ovaries that involve male and female reproductive functions. When suffering from an ovarian teratoma, it is advisable to undergo surgery actively, and to plan for pregnancy after the disease is cured, in order to ensure the healthy development of the fetus.
What's the matter with ovarian teratoma pain?
The causes of lower abdominal pain in women with ovarian teratomas are complex. Firstly, as the teratoma grows in size, it can, due to gravity, pull on surrounding ligaments, causing pain on one side of the lower abdomen. When the teratoma is particularly large, it can also compress nerves in the pelvis, leading to neuropathic pain. Moreover, teratomas are heterogeneously textured. If they are quite mobile and not adhering to surrounding tissues, sudden changes in body position, or an increase in uterine size during the mid-pregnancy, might shift the position of the teratoma. This can lead to torsion of the stalk, causing local ischemia and hypoxia, and resulting in acute lower abdominal pain.
What to do about teratoma pain in the lower abdomen?
Patients with teratomas experiencing lower abdominal pain require immediate attention. Due to the uneven texture of the teratoma itself, it can easily lead to torsion of the ovarian tumor pedicle as a result of changes in the patient's body position. Ovarian tumor pedicle torsion is a gynecological emergency requiring urgent surgical intervention. This is particularly crucial for young women who have not yet given birth, as early surgery can preserve the affected ovary, potentially improving future fertility chances. For older women, emergency surgery to relieve symptoms is also extremely important. Therefore, abdominal pain in patients with teratomas must be taken seriously.
Does a teratoma require immediate surgery?
Not all teratomas require immediate surgery. If a teratoma is found to be relatively small in size, many people can have it remain stable for a long time without significant changes, therefore periodic monitoring is possible. However, if a teratoma shows a rapid increase in size, or if it is already very large with the potential for torsion, or if there is a possibility of rupture or malignant transformation, or if the teratoma has endocrine activity, then immediate surgery may be necessary.
Teratoma B-ultrasound manifestation
Teratomas are tumors that occur in germ cells and can develop in many parts of the body. For example, they can occur within the central nervous system, mediastinum, and pelvic cavity, with the latter being more common. On ultrasound, teratomas have typical features, mainly presenting as abnormal masses. These masses predominantly show mixed echogenicity, with strong echogenicity being more pronounced, appearing as strongly echogenic masses. The strong echogenicity primarily refers to contents including teeth, and also visible are areas of medium to low echogenicity, which are mainly composed of fat and hair. Benign teratomas have smooth borders, while malignant teratomas have irregular borders and are generally larger in size.
Do teratomas hurt?
Teratomas themselves do not cause pain, especially when they are relatively small, women often have no clinical symptoms. As the size gradually increases, the tumor pulls on the surrounding ligaments, causing abdominal discomfort, such as a feeling of abdominal heaviness, or even abdominal pain. Some women may also experience infection or adhesions with surrounding tissues, leading to abdominal pain. Additionally, some women may have malignant transformation of their teratoma, which invades surrounding tissues and nerves, possibly causing headaches. A small number of women may experience a change in the position of the teratoma after pregnancy or urination, leading to torsion, which can obstruct the blood flow to the tumor, resulting in necrosis and bleeding, causing acute abdominal pain.