Is ovarian teratoma cancer?

Written by Xu Xiao Ming

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Updated on January 05, 2025

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Ovarian teratomas are divided into benign and malignant types. If the teratoma is malignant, then it is a type of cancer. If it is benign, it is not cancer; it is just a tumor. The malignancy of a tumor is not as high as that of cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to determine its pathological type. After removing the teratoma, it should be sent to the pathology department for examination to clearly determine whether it is benign or malignant. For benign teratomas, postoperative follow-up observation is sufficient. However, if the teratoma is malignant, the scope of the surgery should be conducted according to the protocols for ovarian cancer, and chemotherapy is required after surgery.

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Written by Su Wen

Obstetrics and Gynecology

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What is a teratoma?

Teratoma is the most common type of ovarian germ cell tumor. The majority of these tumors are mature cystic tumors, while a minority are immature solid ones. Mature teratomas are also known as dermoid cysts, are mostly benign, and can occur at any age, mostly between 20-40 years old, often presenting unilaterally. Immature teratomas are malignant tumors, more commonly found in younger patients, and these tumors are usually solid and bilateral. The primary treatment method is surgical, with post-surgery pathology determining the benign or malignant nature of the tumor and guiding subsequent treatment decisions.

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Obstetrics and Gynecology

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Can ovarian teratomas become cancerous?

Most ovarian teratomas are a type of benign tumor on the ovaries, but a few may become malignant. Therefore, if an ultrasound suggests an ovarian teratoma and it is relatively small, around two to three centimeters, without any symptoms, we can temporarily observe it. However, the condition is that we should test for tumor markers, such as checking if there are significant increases in CA-125 or AFP, to see if there's a tendency for malignancy. Another condition is that regular follow-up examinations are essential. If there's a sudden increase in size in a short period or a continuous growth, it is advisable to consider surgical treatment, as early surgical intervention tends to have better outcomes.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

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Can you get pregnant with an ovarian teratoma?

Ovarian teratomas are common benign solid tumors of the ovaries and generally do not affect pregnancy in women. Ovarian teratomas are usually small; if they are under three centimeters, surgery may not be necessary, and regular ultrasound monitoring is sufficient. This is because small ovarian teratomas can be difficult to locate during surgery, and the procedure can cause some damage to the ovaries. However, in the following situations, it is advisable to treat the teratoma before attempting to conceive: First, if the teratoma is larger than five centimeters, it should be removed regardless of whether it is benign or malignant, as even benign teratomas can cause complications during pregnancy such as rupture, infection, or malignant transformation. Second, if the teratoma grows rapidly over a short period, this suggests the possibility of malignancy. In such cases, the teratoma should be surgically removed and sent for pathological examination before attempting to conceive.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

53sec

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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.

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Written by Shen Jiang Chao

Radiology

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Teratoma B-ultrasound manifestation

Teratomas are tumors that occur in germ cells and can develop in many parts of the body. For example, they can occur within the central nervous system, mediastinum, and pelvic cavity, with the latter being more common. On ultrasound, teratomas have typical features, mainly presenting as abnormal masses. These masses predominantly show mixed echogenicity, with strong echogenicity being more pronounced, appearing as strongly echogenic masses. The strong echogenicity primarily refers to contents including teeth, and also visible are areas of medium to low echogenicity, which are mainly composed of fat and hair. Benign teratomas have smooth borders, while malignant teratomas have irregular borders and are generally larger in size.