How terrible is teratoma during pregnancy

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 regions, mediastinum, retroperitoneum, and gonadal regions. Having a teratoma during pregnancy is very frightening. Will it have a negative impact on the fetus? Let's hear what the experts say.

Most ovarian tumors, including malignant tumors, do not affect the function of the ovaries. This is actually a side reminder that normal menstruation does not mean that there is no problem with the female reproductive system. Regular examinations are still needed. Teratomas usually do not affect ovarian function, so patients can conceive normally, and sometimes they become pregnant with tumors, and the tumors are not found until the pregnancy check. If the tumor is large, surgery is generally required at 14 to 16 weeks of pregnancy, because the risk of miscarriage caused by surgery is the lowest at this time. Generally, the recovery after surgery is good and will not affect the fetus.

Who will be diagnosed with teratoma?

In terms of gender, teratomas are more common in women. Men can also develop teratomas, but it is very rare. In terms of location, the ovaries are the most common location. However, teratomas can also occur in the midline of the body, such as the mediastinum, the front of the spine, and the pelvis, but of course they are very rare. In terms of age, teratomas can occur in both young girls and elderly women, but most of them occur in women aged 20 to 30.

Is there a difference between benign and malignant teratomas?

Of course! About 97% of teratomas are benign teratomas. Benign teratomas that occur in the ovaries are mostly cystic, also known as dermoid cysts. The shape of the tumor is round or oval, with a smooth capsule on the outside. The most common things in the cyst cavity are hair clumps and oil. Oil is liquid at human body temperature (there are also substances as thick as cheese), and it will coagulate into a semi-solid at room temperature soon after the tumor is cut off. There are often teeth and bone fragments in the tumor, and there can be dozens of teeth. There can also be solid parts in the tumor, which are called head segments. The tissues in the tumor are very maturely differentiated, so the tumor is benign. If the differentiation is immature, it is malignant.