Teratoma B-ultrasound manifestation

Written by Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
Updated on November 08, 2024
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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.

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Does teratoma affect menstruation?

Teratoma, under normal circumstances, does not affect menstruation, but it does affect fertility. If it is confirmed that one side has a teratoma, surgery is generally required. After treatment, the ovary on that side is typically removed. Once removed, that ovary will no longer ovulate, and ovulation must occur from the other ovary. The maintenance of hormone levels in the body needs to be supported by the other ovary. If the function of the other ovary is normal, menstruation will continue to occur normally; it will not affect menstruation. However, if after the removal of the teratoma, one ovary is removed, the chance of conception is reduced by half compared to others. Therefore, it is crucial for patients with teratoma to undergo surgery as early as possible. After the surgery, if the pathology shows no issues and if it is a simple teratoma removal, it does not affect menstruation.

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can women with ovarian teratomas have children?

Ovarian teratomas, if discovered after pregnancy, do not significantly impact the child; however, it's crucial to confirm that the ovarian teratoma is benign. If detected during pregnancy, close observation is possible, and sudden lower abdominal pain may indicate ovarian torsion, which requires timely surgical intervention. If there are no symptoms, surgery can wait until after the child is born. If an ovarian teratoma is discovered before pregnancy, it is advisable to undergo surgery before becoming pregnant because ovarian teratomas can sometimes be malignant, and torsion may occur during pregnancy, which could affect the child.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What is the cause of the pain from a teratoma?

Female teratomas are cystic-solid tumors located on the ovaries. When they are small in size, they generally do not cause pain. However, as they grow larger, due to gravitational pull, they stretch the surrounding ligaments, causing women to experience hidden pain on one side of the lower abdomen. This pain is bearable and only intensifies after vigorous activities or intercourse. Some women may experience increased pain if they have a pelvic infection or during menstruation. Because teratomas are uneven in texture, if they are not adherent to surrounding structures and are relatively mobile, and their stalk is thinner, they might twist under certain circumstances, such as rolling over, spinning hula hoops, or during pregnancy, when the uterus grows and changes the position of the teratoma, leading to acute lower abdominal pain from torsion of the teratoma’s stalk. Therefore, when a woman experiences abdominal pain from a teratoma, it is essential to conduct a gynecological examination and pelvic ultrasound to understand the specific cause of the pain.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Do teratomas need to be surgically removed?

If a teratoma is confirmed, it is recommended that the patient undergo surgery immediately to confirm the diagnosis. The surgery for teratoma can be divided into minimally invasive and open surgery. Due to the development of current medical techniques, most teratomas can be operated on using laparoscopy, which is characterized by faster recovery and less trauma. However, in certain special cases, such as when the teratoma is large or the patient is overweight and has a number of other chronic diseases, open surgery can be chosen.