Can teratoma be treated with minimally invasive surgery?

Written by Liu Jian Wei

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Updated on September 10, 2024

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Teratoma is a type of ovarian cyst. Whether a teratoma can be treated through minimally invasive surgery needs to be assessed based on the size of the teratoma. If the teratoma is of normal size, then it can be treated with laparoscopic teratoma surgery. However, if the teratoma is excessively large, such a large teratoma will occupy most of the volume of the pelvic abdomen. In this case, it is not possible to perform minimally invasive surgery. Therefore, further evaluation is needed before performing teratoma surgery to determine if it is suitable for minimally invasive surgery.

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Written by Yan Qiao

Obstetrics and Gynecology

50sec

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What should be paid attention to usually with teratoma?

For patients with teratoma, once the teratoma is detected, it is necessary to monitor it regularly. If the tumor is larger than three centimeters, it is best to undergo surgery as soon as possible. If surgery cannot be performed promptly due to particular reasons, then it is essential to have an ultrasound re-examination every three months. Additionally, patients should avoid vigorous exercise, external impacts, and significant changes in body position in daily life. Because teratomas are mixed masses with uneven textures, they are very prone to torsion. Therefore, significant changes in body position or vigorous exercises can easily cause the torsion of the pedicle, which may lead to the need for emergency surgery.

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Written by Yan Qiao

Obstetrics and Gynecology

54sec

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How long after laparoscopic surgery for a teratoma can one have sexual intercourse?

Teratomas are predominantly benign tumors, mainly located in the ovaries, although in some patients with unique physical constitutions, ovarian tissues may also ectopically end up in the pelvic area, forming a pelvic teratoma. Whether it is an ovarian teratoma or a pelvic teratoma, the scope of the surgery is typically medium-sized. If the surgery is an open operation, it is classified as a second-level surgery, and if it is performed using laparoscopy, it should be classified as a third-level surgery. Both second and third-level surgeries fall under the medium-sized category, and patients usually recover quite quickly after the operation. Typically, we advise patients to refrain from sexual intercourse, pelvic baths, and to avoid heavy physical labor within a month post-operation.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua

Obstetrics and Gynecology

44sec

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Is medication effective for ovarian teratoma?

The occurrence of ovarian teratomas is often related to congenital factors; it is a solid tumor for which medication is ineffective. It is necessary to check if there are other symptoms when a teratoma is detected. For example, some ovarian teratomas involve endocrine issues, others may have a tendency to become malignant, or some might be large in size, and some can experience torsion, leading to sudden abdominal pain, among other problems. Some require early surgical treatment, while small ovarian teratomas can be periodically monitored and observed.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan

Obstetrics and Gynecology

56sec

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Is surgery necessary for teratoma?

Ovarian teratoma belongs to a type of germ cell tumor. Ovarian teratomas can be classified into mature teratomas and immature teratomas. Mature teratoma, also known as dermoid cyst, is mostly a benign tumor. Within the cyst, components such as sebum, hair, teeth, and bone can be found. Additionally, mature teratomas have a malignant transformation risk of 2%-4% and are commonly seen in postmenopausal women. On the other hand, immature teratomas are malignant tumors, accounting for 1%-3% of ovarian teratomas and more commonly found in younger patients, with the average age ranging from 11 to 19 years old. Therefore, timely surgical treatment is necessary once an ovarian teratoma is detected.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie

Obstetrics

52sec

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Is it easy to get pregnant with a teratoma?

First, what is a teratoma? Teratoma is a common ovarian tumor in gynecology, with a very high incidence rate. It is generally benign and the occurrence of teratomas is related to congenital genetic factors. Generally, if a teratoma is found, the first step is to check the size of the teratoma. If it is smaller than five centimeters, tumor series tests are normal, and there is no other discomfort, observation can be initiated. If the teratoma is relatively large, larger than five centimeters, surgical intervention is required. Teratomas themselves are not related to pregnancy, but because teratomas can lead to ovarian cyst torsion, after torsion occurs, one side of the adnexa may need to be removed, which could reduce fertility.