Don't ignore abdominal distension and pain, it may be a teratoma

Ovarian teratoma is a relatively common disease among our germ cell tumors, but many people are not very clear about teratoma. It is caused by abnormal proliferation of germ cells and has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, so it is easy to miss the best treatment time. So what exactly is teratoma?

How does a teratoma occur?

Teratoma is an ovarian tumor that originates from ovarian germ cells. It does not evolve from a woman becoming pregnant with a monster, but rather is caused by abnormal proliferation of germ cells. It is a tumor that grows in ovarian tissue and is formed by abnormal proliferation and aggregation of germ cells. The tumor may contain hair, oil, skin, teeth, bone fragments and other tissues, and may also contain muscle, gastrointestinal, thyroid tissue, etc. The cause of ovarian teratoma is still unclear.

What are the symptoms of teratoma?

Most cases have no symptoms. When the teratoma is too large, there will be abdominal distension, mild abdominal pain and compression symptoms. When a teratoma twists, symptoms such as lower abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting may occur. Compression of the fallopian tubes can cause infertility. Most patients are diagnosed during health checkups, premarital checkups, or pregnancy checkups with ultrasound.

What tests should be done for teratoma?

B-ultrasound examination is the most economical, simple and specific method. The B-ultrasound image of teratoma is very specific. The typical image is a cystic mass in the adnexal area on one side, with dough sign and fat-fluid separation sign inside, which makes the diagnosis of teratoma almost certain. Pelvic X-ray, CT and MRI can reveal calcifications within the pelvic mass. Blood drawing to measure tumor markers such as CA-125, AFP, CEA, hCG, etc. is meaningful for diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

How should teratoma be treated?

Once an ovarian teratoma is formed, it is impossible to get rid of it. It cannot be eliminated by taking medicine or injections, but it does not mean that surgery is needed immediately. When the diameter of the teratoma is less than 75px, dynamic observation and regular B-ultrasound examinations are recommended. Because the teratoma is too small, there is a fear of misdiagnosis. Secondly, the tumor is too small to be found during surgery, and it causes too much damage to normal ovarian tissue. If it is larger than 75px, surgery should be performed as soon as possible.

Can ovarian teratoma become malignant?

Benign mature ovarian teratomas may become malignant, with a malignancy rate of approximately 2 to 3%. In a very small number of patients, teratoma will reappear on the ipsilateral or contralateral side after surgery. Ovarian teratomas are prone to tumor torsion due to their heterogeneity. Once torsion occurs, emergency surgery is necessary. In most cases, the appendages on the twisted side need to be removed, causing irreversible damage to the body. Most clinical cases of ovarian cyst pedicle torsion are caused by teratoma.