How long does it usually take for teratoma to recur?

Teratoma is a common type of ovarian germ cell tumor. It originates from germ cells and is divided into mature teratoma (i.e. benign teratoma) and immature teratoma (malignant teratoma). Benign teratoma contains many kinds of components, including skin, hair, teeth, bones, oil, nerve tissue, etc. Malignant teratoma is poorly differentiated, with little or no formed tissue and unclear structure. So how long does it usually take for teratoma to recur?

Ovarian teratoma is a common and frequently-occurring disease in female infertility. In recent years, the incidence rate has been very high, accounting for about 50% of female infertility. Moreover, this disease is not limited by age, and women of childbearing age are likely to develop ovarian teratoma.

Ovarian teratoma, also known as ovarian dermoid cyst in medicine, is an ovarian germ cell tumor. Like other ovarian tumors, the cause of the disease is still unclear, because most of them occur before the oocyte matures and divides, and it is estimated that it may be caused by the failure of the first mature division.

Because the center of ovarian teratoma is often biased to one side and located higher, it is easy to twist. If not treated in time, the mass will easily soften and the tension will increase, causing the cyst to rupture and the contents to flow into the abdominal cavity, causing severe peritonitis, and then leading to infection and toxic shock. If irreversible shock is caused, the consequences will be disastrous and may be life-threatening.

Ovarian teratoma needs to be surgically removed as soon as possible, but there is still a possibility of recurrence after surgery. Ovarian teratoma recurrence generally includes the following situations:

①The first operation did not remove the cyst completely, and some cyst wall tissue was retained.

② There are other tissues of different germ layers in the ovary, which may be regrown tumors.

As long as the ovary still exists, simply removing the teratoma may cause recurrence. This surgery is very damaging to the ovary. You have already had surgery once, so conservative treatment with traditional Chinese medicine is recommended. If there is no hard tissue such as teeth and bones in the teratoma, it can be gradually softened, reduced or even disappeared through traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Experts remind you to have a follow-up every six months to one year after surgery, and you need to do a BUS examination.