Is ovarian teratoma a major surgery?

Whether ovarian teratomas require major surgery depends on the nature of the tumor. Most benign teratomas only require laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery, while malignant teratomas may require extended surgery.

Ovarian teratomas are common ovarian germ cell tumors, and about 95% are mature teratomas (benign). Such tumors usually grow slowly, are less than 5 cm in diameter and have no tendency to become malignant, and can be completely removed through laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery only requires 3-4 small holes of 0.5-1 cm in the abdomen. The intraoperative blood loss is usually less than 50 ml. The postoperative hospital stay is about 3-5 days. It belongs to the category of routine minimally invasive gynecological surgery. For young patients, doctors will try to preserve normal ovarian tissue so that fertility function will not be affected after surgery. This type of surgery is less invasive, faster recovery, and has a lower probability of complications.

Laparotomy may be required in emergencies such as torsion or rupture of immature teratomas (malignant) or benign teratomas. If the diameter of the tumor exceeds 10 centimeters, is seriously adherent to surrounding tissue, or shows signs of malignant transformation, the scope of surgery may be expanded to include removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, and lymph node dissection if necessary. The incision of this type of surgery can be up to 10-15 cm, and more precise anatomical separation is required during the operation, and the changes in tumor markers need to be closely monitored after the operation. For patients with fertility needs, doctors will adjust the surgical plan based on the rapid intraoperative pathology results to preserve fertility as much as possible.

Strenuous exercise should be avoided for 1-2 months after surgery, and ultrasound and tumor markers should be reviewed regularly. Pay attention to supplementing the diet with high-quality protein such as fish, eggs and milk to promote incision healing. If fever, abdominal pain worsens, or abnormal vaginal bleeding occurs, you need to return to the hospital for examination in time. Regardless of the surgical method, early and standardized treatment can achieve a good prognosis, and patients do not need to be overly anxious about the risks of surgery.