Mature teratomas are noncancerous growths made up of body tissues such as teeth, skin, hair, and fat. They can form in various parts of the body, including the ovaries, testicles, spine, and mediastinum. Treatment involves surgical removal of the cyst.
A mature teratoma, also called a dermoid cyst, is a growth that is normally present at birth and continues to grow as the patient matures. The cyst is made up of body tissues such as teeth, skin, hair and fat. Mature teratomas are noncancerous and are usually cured through surgical removal of the cyst.
Some women develop mature teratomas on the ovaries. While not malignant, a mature teratoma can cause a variety of complications, such as infections and ruptured, rotated, or twisted ovaries. Women in their 20s and 40s are at the highest risk.
Mature teratomas can also form in the testicles. Prepubertal teratomas form between the ages of 20 months and 4 years, and postpubertal teratomas affect males between the ages of 20 and 40. Although most prepubertal cases involve a mature teratoma, this type of tumor is rare in adult males.
Some babies are born with sacrococcygeal teratomas, which are tumors that form near the spine. Some cancers grow entirely outside the body and others are partially or completely inside. Sacrococcygeal teratomas can divert blood flow away from the fetus and can endanger the health of both the mother and the unborn baby.
Teratomas can also form in the mediastinum, which is the area between the lungs. Many mediastinal cysts produce no symptoms. Doctors sometimes find them when treating unrelated illnesses or injuries.
A doctor who suspects a patient has a mature teratoma might do ultrasound tests to look inside the body. Your doctor might take X-rays to look for masses or use computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests to determine the density and boundaries of the cyst. He or she might perform a needle biopsy to determine if the cyst is malignant.
Doctors usually treat the condition by surgically removing the cyst. Sometimes the cysts are connected to other parts of the body, such as the lungs. If the doctor is unable to remove the entire tumor, he or she may remove part of it to provide relief for the patient’s symptoms. A mature teratoma usually doesn’t grow back.
Doctors treat testicular teratomas through a procedure called an orchiectomy, which removes the cyst along with the testicle. Women are treated with a salpingo-oophorectomy, a procedure that removes the ovary, or a cystectomy to remove just the cyst. Babies could undergo prenatal surgery if their health is at significant risk.
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