What are the clinical classifications of teratoma

Many people do not know the existence of teratoma, so when they find their abdomen gradually bulging, they will think they are really pregnant. Experts say that teratoma is different from pregnancy, we should always be vigilant and learn more about it. Next, let's talk about the classification of teratoma.

According to the degree of tissue differentiation and maturity , it can be divided into two categories: benign teratoma and malignant teratoma:

1. Benign teratoma:

Most of them are cystic, so they are also called cystic teratomas, or dermoid cysts. It refers to a benign cystic mass that grows in a certain organ in the body. Its contents are mostly liquid. It is a benign disease) and is more common in the ovaries. The tumors are mostly unilocular, with a granular inner wall, rough and uneven, and often with nodular protrusions. Sometimes small pieces of bone, cartilage, etc. can be seen. There is sebum, hair, and even teeth in the cyst cavity. Under the microscope, in addition to skin tissue and skin appendages, glands covered with cubic epithelium, tracheal or intestinal mucosa, bones, cartilage, brain, smooth muscle, thyroid and other tissues can also be seen. Various tissues are basically differentiated and mature, so it is called mature teratoma. Benign teratomas have a good prognosis, and a few malignant ones will turn into squamous cell carcinomas.

2. Malignant teratoma:

Most of them are solid and more common in the testicles than in the ovaries. They are mainly composed of immature embryonic tissues, often with poorly differentiated neuroectodermal components, so they are also called immature teratomas. This tumor often metastasizes, and can metastasize to the pelvic cavity and distant organs.

Teratomas are divided into three categories according to their maturity :

1. Cystic mature teratoma: also known as dermoid cyst, with intact capsule and the cavity may contain hair, sebum, and cartilage components. About 9% to 15% of them may become malignant, among which squamous cell carcinoma is the most common and adenocarcinoma is rare.

2. Solid teratoma: It is a solid mass with cysts of varying sizes on the cut surface, with hemorrhage and necrosis inside. Under the microscope, all germ layer tissue components can be seen, with the majority being endoderm. The degree of maturity of this disease is between benign and malignant, which is called intermediate teratoma.

3. Immature teratoma: The tumor contains undifferentiated immature tissue components, also known as malignant teratoma. It grows rapidly, often infiltrates adjacent tissues and causes severe symptoms, metastasizes through blood and lymph nodes, and is usually more common in adenocarcinoma.