What are the causes of teratoma?

Ovarian teratoma is a common type of ovarian germ cell tumor. It is not developed after a woman becomes pregnant with a freak baby, but is derived from the abnormal proliferation of germ cells. It is a tumor that grows in the ovarian tissue and is formed by the abnormal proliferation and aggregation of germ cells. Because germ cells contain three types of tissue components: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm, the tumor will contain ectoderm tissues such as hair, oil, skin, teeth, and bone pieces, and may also contain mesoderm or endoderm tissues such as muscle, gastrointestinal, and thyroid tissues.

1. Classification of ovarian teratoma types

According to the pathological histological type, it is divided into mature teratoma, immature teratoma and ovarian goiter. The most common mature teratoma is mature cystic teratoma, also known as dermoid cyst. Immature teratoma has malignant biological behavior.

Pathogenesis of ovarian teratoma

1. Parthenogenesis theory: Parthenogenesis caused by atypical division of primordial germ cells after stimulation is the most common etiology of immature teratoma.

2. The totipotent cell theory Early studies believed that teratomas came from primitive abnormal tissues in the early embryonic stage, which had the instinct of self-differentiation. These "totipotent cells" left behind grew uncoordinated and had abnormal embryonic development, thus becoming separated from the whole and causing disordered differentiation and excessive proliferation, eventually forming teratomas.

3. Etiology and pathology of ovarian teratoma

Ovarian teratomas are usually composed of 2-3 germ layers. Mature cystic teratomas have a smooth surface, intact capsule, and a diameter of about 10 cm. The cyst contains sebum and hair, and sometimes teeth, bones, and scalp head sections can be seen, with the head section protruding into the cavity as its characteristic. The degree of differentiation of immature teratomas varies, showing the process of each germ layer evolving from immature to mature stage. The histological morphology ranges from cancer to sarcoma, with various components mixed. Teratomas containing neural components are classified as immature teratomas.