How is a teratoma surgically removed?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on January 26, 2025
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When a woman has an ovarian teratoma, treatment should be determined based on the specific age of the woman, whether the teratoma is benign or malignant, and other factors.

For example, if the woman is relatively young and has a benign teratoma and wishes to preserve her fertility, she can undergo ovarian teratoma excision surgery, which can be performed either laparoscopically or through an open surgery. During the operation, the entire teratoma can be completely separated and placed in a specimen bag to prevent contamination of the woman's pelvic cavity and avoid chemical peritonitis or granuloma.

If the teratoma is malignant, then it is necessary to remove the adnexa and perform a comprehensive staging surgery. After surgery, based on the results of the pathological examination, it will be decided whether additional treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy are needed.

Other Voices

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Written by Zhao Xiao Dong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Why does pressing on a teratoma hurt?

Teratoma pain is often caused by torsion of the teratoma, which is prone to twisting, especially after vigorous exercise or sexual intercourse. Teratoma torsion typically presents as lower abdominal pain, and physical examination of the teratoma site will show significant tenderness, and even rebound pain. In such cases, emergency surgery is generally required to perform a teratoma excision. If the torsion is too severe and there is obvious ovarian necrosis, a unilateral adnexectomy must be performed, and the ovary cannot be preserved. However, this is relatively rare, and in most cases of teratoma torsion, the ovary can be preserved.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Will a teratoma disappear with Chinese herbal medicine?

Teratoma is a common type of ovarian cyst. Clinically, teratomas will not disappear by taking traditional Chinese medicine. Generally, it is recommended that if a patient suspects a teratoma, they should immediately seek medical attention at a local hospital, undergo gynecological examinations, gynecological ultrasound, and other relevant tests, and hospitalization for surgical treatment if necessary. The primary purpose of the surgery is to completely remove the ovarian teratoma. Secondly, the removed ovarian teratoma should be subjected to further pathological examination to confirm whether it is an ovarian teratoma.

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Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can ovarian teratomas become cancerous?

Ovarian teratomas are mostly benign tumors, and it is usually sufficient to undergo tumor excision or unilateral oophorectomy. However, ovarian teratomas can become malignant, and in such cases, corresponding chemotherapy treatment should be used after surgery based on the condition. Even after chemotherapy, malignant teratomas may recur. If the malignant teratoma recurs, further surgeries can be performed. Each surgery can reduce the malignancy of the teratoma, so surgery combined with chemotherapy is very effective for the treatment of malignant teratomas.

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Will a teratoma regrow if it is removed?

After surgery for ovarian teratoma, whether it can regrow is uncertain, because ovarian tissue can potentially develop such tumors. Ovarian teratomas can be benign or malignant. The recurrence rate of benign teratomas is very low after surgery, but there is still a possibility of regrowth. However, for malignant teratomas, also known as immature teratomas, surgery involves removing the affected ovary. The opposite ovary can be preserved if it is normal, depending on the patient's age, but regular follow-ups are necessary. If the patient is older, an extensive surgery for teratoma, which includes the removal of both the uterus and ovaries, might be required.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What is the cause of the pain from a teratoma?

Female teratomas are cystic-solid tumors located on the ovaries. When they are small in size, they generally do not cause pain. However, as they grow larger, due to gravitational pull, they stretch the surrounding ligaments, causing women to experience hidden pain on one side of the lower abdomen. This pain is bearable and only intensifies after vigorous activities or intercourse. Some women may experience increased pain if they have a pelvic infection or during menstruation. Because teratomas are uneven in texture, if they are not adherent to surrounding structures and are relatively mobile, and their stalk is thinner, they might twist under certain circumstances, such as rolling over, spinning hula hoops, or during pregnancy, when the uterus grows and changes the position of the teratoma, leading to acute lower abdominal pain from torsion of the teratoma’s stalk. Therefore, when a woman experiences abdominal pain from a teratoma, it is essential to conduct a gynecological examination and pelvic ultrasound to understand the specific cause of the pain.