Is teratoma related to HPV?

Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on December 17, 2024
00:00
00:00

Teratomas are not related to HPV. Teratomas grow on the ovaries, while HPV infections occur in the cervix or vaginal area, so the locations of these two diseases are different. There are benign teratomas and immature teratomas, which must be surgically removed after detection. Most women will be infected with the HPV virus at some point in their lives, and the majority will clear the virus within two years through their immune system, so there is no need to be overly concerned about HPV infections, just regular follow-ups are sufficient.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
43sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 22sec home-news-image

How to Determine if a Teratoma is Benign

Teratomas in women are classified into benign and malignant categories. Benign teratomas typically have a complete capsule and grow very slowly. Some women find that the size of the teratoma does not change significantly during follow-up exams. Malignant teratomas, however, grow quickly and can present severe clinical symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and pelvic masses, with some women also experiencing fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. Furthermore, blood tests for gynecological tumor markers can also be used for differentiation. For example, in malignant tumors, markers such as CA-125, CA-199, and alpha-fetoprotein are elevated to varying degrees, particularly alpha-fetoprotein. During a CT scan, malignant teratomas may show unclear borders, potentially indicating invasion into the surrounding tissues. Additionally, after surgical removal of the tumor, pathological histological examination can be conducted for further differentiation. For instance, malignant teratomas tend to have a higher proportion of immature components.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
49sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of a teratoma?

Patients with teratomas may have no clinical symptoms whatsoever. Some women only discover ovarian teratomas incidentally during gynecological ultrasound examinations at health check-ups. However, it is important to note that if ovarian teratomas develop complications, they can present a range of clinical symptoms. For example, if an ovarian teratoma undergoes torsion, the patient may experience lower abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Moreover, if the teratoma has malignant tendencies, it can exhibit a series of clinical manifestations typical of malignant tumors.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
37sec home-news-image

Symptoms of ovarian teratoma

In clinical practice, some women with ovarian teratoma may not exhibit any symptoms and the presence of an ovarian teratoma might only be discovered during a physical examination. In some cases, women with ovarian teratoma may experience torsion of the tumor after vigorous activity. When torsion occurs, the patient may suddenly feel pain in one side of the lower abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms occur, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention and, if necessary, undergo timely surgical treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 1sec home-news-image

How to treat ovarian teratoma

The treatment for ovarian teratoma can only be addressed through surgical methods; this type of teratoma cannot be treated effectively with medication or conservative approaches. Therefore, once an ultrasound report indicates the presence of a teratoma, it is often advised to undergo surgery as soon as possible. After the surgery, the removed tissue should be examined pathologically again to check for any malignant tendencies. The majority of teratomas are benign, with only a very small number of undifferentiated ones showing malignant potential. Hence, most teratomas require surgical treatment at a hospital. There are different surgical options for treating teratomas, including open abdominal surgery and minimally invasive surgery. If conditions allow, most people will opt for laparoscopic surgery to treat ovarian teratomas.