Can ovarian teratomas be treated with Chinese medicine?

Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on October 25, 2024
00:00
00:00

Ovarian teratomas cannot be treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Firstly, ovarian teratomas are categorized as germ cell tumors and are divided into mature and immature teratomas. Mature teratomas, also known as dermoid cysts, are benign tumors. The cysts may contain hair, teeth, and some bony material. Immature teratomas, on the other hand, are malignant tumors that make up 1% to 3% of ovarian teratomas and are more common in younger patients aged 11 to 19 years. Therefore, once an ovarian teratoma is suspected, it is necessary to promptly visit a hospital for further examinations to determine the nature of the cyst, and then, based on the examination results, appropriately handle it with timely surgical intervention.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
52sec home-news-image

Does ovarian teratoma affect menstruation?

Ovarian teratomas include mature teratomas, which are benign tumors. These benign ovarian teratomas do not affect menstruation. However, there are also malignant teratomas, which are immature teratomas. Immature teratomas can secrete hormones, and because they secrete different types of hormones, their impact on menstruation varies. If an ovarian teratoma is diagnosed, immediate surgical treatment is required, because if it is an immature teratoma, it is malignant. Prolonged presence can lead to metastasis. If a teratoma is detected early, early-stage malignant tumors can be cured through surgical treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
29sec home-news-image

Does teratoma require blood tests?

If a patient with a teratoma needs to undergo a blood test, the blood test may include routine blood work and blood biochemistry, as well as tumor marker tests such as CA125 and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) to check for any abnormal increases. If surgery is required for the patient, there might be additional blood tests conducted, including lipid profile, thyroid function tests, and infection and immunity tests. All these require blood draws for the examination.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
53sec home-news-image

Can a teratoma be detected by ultrasound?

Teratomas are a common type of solid tumor in the ovaries, and the vast majority of ovarian teratomas are benign. The most common method to examine teratomas in women is to perform an ultrasound. Generally, an abdominal ultrasound can be done 3-7 days after the menstrual cycle has ended to observe the ultrasonic echo of both ovaries. Normally, both ovaries are uniform in size and echo. If the ultrasound suggests the presence of a substantive mass on the ovary, which has a strong echo, or indicates the presence of fat or bone echoes, then this condition is highly suspected to be a teratoma. For ovarian teratomas, if the size is relatively small and there are no clinical symptoms, temporary observation is possible. However, if it is larger than five centimeters, laparoscopic removal is generally recommended.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Qiao
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
50sec home-news-image

Are ovarian teratomas congenital?

Ovarian teratomas are congenital, primarily deriving from primordial germ cells. Teratomas consist of tissues from multiple embryonic layers, mostly being immature types. Most ovarian teratomas are cystic. Depending on the degree of tissue differentiation, teratomas can be classified as benign or malignant. Benign teratomas, also known as mature teratomas, are more common in women aged 20-40 and are usually unilateral and either round or ovoid in shape. A portion of these teratomas are malignant, typically found in younger patients, roughly aged 11-19 years, and this condition has a poorer prognosis, requiring timely surgical treatment.