Teratoma is a tumor made up of several types of germ cells, i. e. cells that, after development, can give birth to different types of tissue in the human body, so it is very common for hair, skin, teeth, nails and even fingers to appear in the tumor, for example.
This type of tumor is usually more common in the ovaries, women, and testicles, in men, but can develop anywhere in the body.
- In addition.
- In most cases.
- Teratoma is benign and may not require treatment; However.
- In rarer cases.
- It can also have cancer cells.
- So it is considered cancer and needs to be removed.
In most cases, teratoma has no symptoms, being identified only by routine tests, such as CT scans, ultrasounds or x-rays.
However, when the teratoma is already developed, it can cause symptoms related to where it develops, such as:
In cases of malignant teratoma, cancer may develop in nearby organs, resulting in a decrease in the functioning of these organs.
To confirm the diagnosis, a CT scan is needed to identify whether there is a foreign mass in a part of the body, with specific characteristics that need to be evaluated by the doctor.
The only form of treatment for teratoma is to have surgery to remove the tumor and prevent it from growing, especially if it is causing symptoms. During this surgery, a sample of the cells is also taken to be sent to a lab to assess whether the tumor is benign or malignant.
If teratoma is malignant, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may still be needed to ensure that all cancer cells are removed, thus preventing recurrence.
In some cases, when the teratoma develops very slowly, your doctor may also choose to look only at the tumor; in such cases, frequent tests and consultations are required to assess the degree of tumor development; if your size increases a lot, surgery is recommended. .
Teratoma occurs from birth, being caused by a genetic mutation that occurs during the baby’s development; however, this type of tumor develops very slowly and is often identified only during childhood or adulthood during a routine exam.
Although it is a genetic alteration, teratoma is not hereditary and therefore is not transmitted from parents to children, in addition, it is not common for it to appear in more than one place in the body.