Benign Cystic Teratoma: A Tumor with Multiple Faces

Cystic teratoma is a common type of ovarian tumor.It is made of tissues that develop from the three germ layers-ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.These layers can form structures like hair, muscle, teeth, or bone.Most of these tumors are not cancerous, but in 1-2% of cases, they may become cancerous.These tumors are more common in women between the ages of 20 and 40 and can cause complications like torsion.Because of this, it is important to remove them through surgery.A 19-year-old female who is unmarried and has never been pregnant came in with complaints of bloating and irregular periods.During her physical exam, she seemed to be a healthy young woman without obvious signs of pain or distress.An ultrasound scan of her abdomen and pelvis showed a large cystic mass in the middle of her abdomen, stretching from the pelvic area up to the upper part of her stomach.A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested the presence of a large ovarian tumor.She then had an exploratory surgery called a laparotomy.During the surgery, her right fallopian tube and ovary were removed, along with some lymph nodes from the right side of her pelvis and part of her omentum.The tissue was examined under a microscope, and the result confirmed she had a mature cystic teratoma (MCT).Ovarian cysts are more often found in women of childbearing age.It is recommended that these women get regular pelvic exams to detect cysts early and get them treated on time.The outlook is usually good if the cyst is not cancerous.