Detailed explanation of the treatment methods for teratoma

Teratomas originate from potentially multifunctional primitive embryonic cells and are mostly benign, but the tendency to be malignant increases with age. The site of occurrence is related to the midline anterior axis or midline paracentral area of ​​the embryological body cavity, and is often seen in the sacral and coccygeal region, mediastinum, retroperitoneum, and gonadal region. It is more common in newborns and infants, and more common in women. So what are the treatments for teratomas?

Once a teratoma is diagnosed, early surgical resection is necessary to prevent benign teratoma from becoming malignant due to delayed surgery, and to prevent infection, rupture, bleeding and complications. The key point of teratoma surgery is to completely remove the tumor. For ovarian and testicular tumors, one ovary or testicle should be removed. For sacrococcygeal teratoma, the coccyx must be removed at the same time to avoid residual pluripotent cells that may cause tumor recurrence.

The treatment principle of malignant teratoma is combined adjuvant therapy. Conventional chemotherapy is used for 1.5 to 2 years after surgical resection. Radiotherapy is only used for cases of malignant teratoma with clear microscopic or macroscopic residues. The radiotherapy dose is preferably 25Gy for microscopic residues and 35Gy for macroscopic residues. For those who have undergone complete surgical resection, chemotherapy has been advocated as the main therapy in recent years, and radiotherapy has been used with caution to avoid delayed damage to the reproductive organs and bone development during radiotherapy.

Women should participate in gynecological examinations regularly. Now some units only organize married women to participate in gynecological examinations, but in fact all women of childbearing age should participate in gynecological examinations, especially B-ultrasound examinations, to nip tumors in the bud or early stage. Mothers should often touch their children's bellies, and teenagers, women and middle-aged and elderly women should also often touch their abdomens to see if there are any lumps. After finding a lump, no matter how big or small it is, whether it hurts or not, you should seek medical attention in time. The best way to touch is: get up in the morning, empty your bladder, lie flat, bend your legs slightly, and touch from one side of the lower abdomen to the other side. If the lump is found to be a hard foreign body, it is suspected to be a tumor. Once a teratoma is found, doctors recommend removal.

After ovarian teratoma surgery, you can get pregnant normally, and it will not cause much harm to your body. As long as the teratoma does not exceed the navel, laparoscopic surgery is recommended, which has a small incision and a quick recovery.

Generally speaking, the earlier the teratoma is found in the childbearing age, the lower the malignancy rate. Currently, the survival rate of malignant ovarian teratoma after complete resection and comprehensive treatment can reach 97%, and the survival rate of residual or recurrent teratoma during surgery can be further improved.