Teratoma (patient information)

Jump to navigation Jump to search

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Teratoma (patient information)

Articles

Most recent articles on Teratoma (patient information)

Most cited articles on Teratoma (patient information)

Review articles on Teratoma (patient information)

Articles on Teratoma (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Teratoma (patient information)

Images of Teratoma (patient information)

Photos of Teratoma (patient information)

Podcasts & MP3s on Teratoma (patient information)

Videos on Teratoma (patient information)

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Teratoma (patient information)

Bandolier on Teratoma (patient information)

TRIP on Teratoma (patient information)

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Teratoma (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Teratoma (patient information)

Clinical Trials on Teratoma (patient information) at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Teratoma (patient information)

NICE Guidance on Teratoma (patient information)

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Teratoma (patient information)

CDC on Teratoma (patient information)

Books

Books on Teratoma (patient information)

News

Teratoma (patient information) in the news

Be alerted to news on Teratoma (patient information)

News trends on Teratoma (patient information)

Commentary

Blogs on Teratoma (patient information)

Definitions

Definitions of Teratoma (patient information)

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Teratoma (patient information)

Discussion groups on Teratoma (patient information)

Patient Handouts on Teratoma (patient information)

Directions to Hospitals Treating Teratoma (patient information)

Risk calculators and risk factors for Teratoma (patient information)

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Teratoma (patient information)

Causes & Risk Factors for Teratoma (patient information)

Diagnostic studies for Teratoma (patient information)

Treatment of Teratoma (patient information)

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Teratoma (patient information)

International

Teratoma (patient information) en Espanol

Teratoma (patient information) en Francais

Business

Teratoma (patient information) in the Marketplace

Patents on Teratoma (patient information)

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Teratoma (patient information)

Editor-in-Chief: Jinhui Wu, MD

Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

What is teratoma?

Mature cystic teratoma of ovary (benign) Courtesy of Ed Uthman, MD

Teratoma is a type of cancer made of cysts that contain one or more of the three main types of cells found in a developing embryo. Some teratomas are benign, some are cancerous. And benign teratomas have the risk to chnage into cancerous. Generally, teratomas locate in genital glands, mediastina and sacrococcygeal region. Symptoms vary depending on the locations. Usual symptoms include abdominal pain, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain and abnormal bleeding from the vagina. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels and some imaging tests may be helpful for the diagnosis. Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy.

How do I know if I have teratoma and what are the symptoms of teratoma?

Signs and symptoms vary depending on the location. Early teratoma does not have any symptoms. As the tumor grows larger, people may notice one or more of the following symptoms:

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Who is at risk for teratoma?

The cause of teratoma is not clear.

How to know you have teratoma?

  • Blood tests to check beta-HCG and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels: For patients with teratoma, the two levela may be much higher than normal.
  • Computed tomograph scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis: CT scans are often used to diagnose teratoma. It can confirm the location of the cancer and show the organs nearby, as well as lymph nodes and distant organs where the cancer might have spread. These are helpful for determining the stage of the cancer and in determining whether surgery is a good treatment option.
  • Mediastinoscopy, laparoscopes with biopsy

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider if symptoms of teratoma develop. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:

Treatment options

Patients with teratoma have many treatment options. The selection depends on the stage of the tumor. The options are surgery and chemotherapy, or a combination of these methods. Before treatment starts, ask your health care team about possible side effects and how treatment may change your normal activities. Because cancer treatments often damage healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. Side effect may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next.

  • Surgery: If the teratoma has not spread and the patient's general health is available, the surgery may be recommened.
  • Chemotherapy: The treatment is to use drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Usual used drugs are cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin.

Diseases with similar symptoms

Different locational teratomas show different symptoms and signs.

Teratoma in genital gland needs to differ from

mediastinal teratoma needs to differ from

Sacrococcygeal teratoma needs to differ from

Where to find medical care for teratoma?

Directions to Hospitals Treating teratoma

Prevention of teratoma

Because the cause is not clear, the preventive measure is unknown.

What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?

The prognosis of teratoma depends on the following:

  • Whether or not the tumor can be removed by surgery.
  • The size and location of the tumor
  • The patient’s general health

Copyleft Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001316.htm

Template:WH Template:WS