Among various types of ovarian tumors, there is one that contains hair, teeth, bones, and fatty tissue, which we call an ovarian teratoma. This condition is most common in adolescents and children.

Ovarian teratoma is a common type of ovarian germ cell tumor. It does not develop from a woman carrying an abnormal fetus but rather arises from the abnormal proliferation of germ cells. It is a tumor formed by the abnormal growth and accumulation of germ cells within ovarian tissue. Because germ cells contain the three tissue components of the human body—ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm—the tumor may contain ectodermal tissues such as hair, fatty tissue, skin, teeth, and bone fragments, as well as mesodermal or endodermal tissues like muscle, gastrointestinal, or thyroid tissue.

bubble_chart Pathological Changes

Ovarian cystic mature teratomas are generally medium-sized, mostly unilateral, with 12% being bilateral. They have a round or oval appearance, enclosed by a smooth membrane, with a tough cyst wall and mostly unilocular. The most common contents within the cyst cavity are clumps of hair and sebum, and teeth and bone fragments are also often present. These tissues are well-differentiated, so the tumors are mostly benign, with approximately 2% undergoing malignant transformation.

A very small number of immature teratomas are malignant tumors, classified as malignant germ cell tumors, with the potential for recurrence and metastasis. The tumors are mostly solid, possibly containing cystic areas. The tissues within the tumor do not resemble normal tissue, exhibiting poor cellular differentiation and characteristics of metastasis, invasion, and implantation.

There are several types of ovarian teratomas, including mature teratomas and immature teratomas. Among them, 97% are cystic mature teratomas, also known as dermoid cysts. Dermoid cysts are one of the most common types, accounting for 10-20% of all ovarian tumors and 85-97% of germ cell tumors. Since it is unrelated to pregnancy, ovarian teratomas can occur at any age, affecting newborns, adolescents, middle-aged, or elderly individuals. However, 80-90% of cases are women of reproductive age between 20 and 40 years old, constituting approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of ovarian tumor patients.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

Generally speaking, the prognosis of immature teratomas is poor, and surgery cannot guarantee complete and thorough elimination, posing a risk of recurrence. In contrast, the prognosis of benign teratomas is better, with only a 2%-3% chance of malignant transformation. They do not affect ovarian function, and after surgery, menstruation remains normal, fertility rates are unaffected, and there are no issues with compound formulas.