What department should I go to for a teratoma?

Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Teratomas are not considered complex and difficult diseases; you can just register for a regular gynecology appointment. Then, related examinations such as ultrasound scans are necessary to assess aspects like the size and echoes of the teratoma, the presence of ascites in the pelvic cavity, whether there are adhesions nearby, and the clarity of the boundaries. Corresponding gynecological examinations are also required, as well as checking for symptoms such as compression of adjacent tissues and the presence of significant abdominal pain. Generally, teratomas around five centimeters in size may experience torsion of the pedicle, so laparoscopic surgery might be necessary when required.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can teratoma be treated with minimally invasive surgery?

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 Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can a teratoma disappear with medication?

Ovarian teratomas cannot be treated with medication. Ovarian teratomas are the most common type of germ cell tumor and are categorized into mature and immature teratomas. Mature teratomas, also known as dermoid cysts, are mostly benign tumors. These cysts generally have a single chamber filled with sebum and hair, and sometimes teeth and bone material can also be found inside. On the other hand, immature teratomas are malignant tumors, making up 1%-3% of ovarian teratomas, commonly seen in younger patients with an average age between 11 and 19 years. Thus, it is crucial to seek prompt medical evaluation upon detection of an ovarian teratoma to determine the size of the cyst and, if necessary, pursue surgical treatment, as medication will not resolve the issue.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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Written by Yan Qiao
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How large must an ovarian teratoma be to require surgery?

Ovarian teratomas, if detected by ultrasound, are indicative of surgery regardless of the size of the tumor. However, it is essential to locate the lesion accurately to proceed with the surgery. For teratomas smaller than two centimeters, it can be quite challenging to find the lesion, which might lead to surgical failure. Additionally, this can increase the trauma for the patient and the costs of surgery. Thus, it is generally advised to perform surgery on teratomas that are larger than two centimeters to ensure a more reliable outcome. In cases where patients have other diseases in conjunction with a teratoma, it is also feasible to consider removing the teratoma during surgery for the other conditions, always attempting to thoroughly explore and locate the teratoma regardless of its size.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.