Is medication effective for ovarian teratoma?

Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on March 06, 2025
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The occurrence of ovarian teratomas is often related to congenital factors; it is a solid tumor for which medication is ineffective. It is necessary to check if there are other symptoms when a teratoma is detected. For example, some ovarian teratomas involve endocrine issues, others may have a tendency to become malignant, or some might be large in size, and some can experience torsion, leading to sudden abdominal pain, among other problems. Some require early surgical treatment, while small ovarian teratomas can be periodically monitored and observed.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can ovarian teratomas be cured?

Ovarian teratoma is a relatively common tumor disease in women, mostly benign in nature, and its development is largely associated with congenital factors. For small ovarian teratomas detected early, regular follow-up examinations are generally sufficient. However, surgery is required when necessary, such as in cases of rapid growth or when endocrine functions are involved, etc. Relying solely on medication to treat teratomas is utterly ineffective, as this type of tumor is a more solid ovarian tumor, and no medication will work.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How large must a teratoma be to require surgery?

Ovarian teratomas belong to a type of ovarian germ cell tumor. Ovarian teratomas can be classified into mature teratomas, also known as dermoid cysts, which are a type of benign tumor. There are also immature teratomas, which are malignant tumors commonly found in younger patients, typically between the ages of 11 and 19. If an ovarian teratoma is found to be over three centimeters in diameter, further examinations such as a CA125 test and pelvic CT scan are needed. In the absence of other complications, elective surgical treatment can be planned. However, if the examination reveals high CA125 levels and the pelvic CT confirms the diagnosis, and the cyst is growing rapidly with high blood lipids, timely surgical treatment is necessary, followed by a rapid pathological examination during the surgery.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is teratoma a twin?

Teratomas have no specific correlation with pregnancy status. Teratomas are a type of ovarian cyst and are tumors of the ovaries. Generally, when teratomas are diagnosed clinically, hospitalization and surgery are required for treatment. Teratomas are not connected to twin pregnancies. Teratomas are relatively common in clinical settings, and the diagnosis needs to be confirmed by postoperative pathology. Teratomas can be categorized into benign and malignant types, each requiring different treatments.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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Written by Qu Chun Yao
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is surgery necessary for ovarian teratoma?

If a color Doppler ultrasound confirms the presence of an ovarian teratoma, surgical treatment is required, as ovarian teratomas can be benign or malignant. Once diagnosed via color Doppler ultrasound, abdominal CT, MRI, or other radiological methods, surgery is necessary. Based on the surgical pathology results, if the teratoma is benign, cystectomy can be performed. If the pathology indicates malignancy, a more extensive surgical procedure and postoperative chemotherapy may be required. During this period, it is important to avoid ovarian cyst torsion and rupture to prevent the necessity of emergency surgery for acute abdomen. Ovarian teratomas cannot disappear naturally, so prompt surgical treatment is essential once diagnosed.