Monday, September 15, 2008

Review of Dermoid Cysts

By Jay Taylor


A dermoid cyst can appear on anyone regardless of race, sex, age. Dermoid cysts which are found on the face, scalp or neck, are usually present and detectable from birth. Likewise dermoid cysts in the ovary obviously appear only in women.

A dermoid cyst usually occurs in the ovaries. These cysts are usually seen in women of childbearing age, from their 20s until about age 40, but can occur in women of any age. These complex cysts, which develop from totipotential germ cells, often contain tissue such as hair or teeth, or even bone tissue. Dermoid cysts can appear on the scalp, face, or neck and on either or both ovaries. They may need to be surgically removed when found on the ovaries if they cause severe pain or circumvent blood flow to the ovaries.

The dermoid or mature teratoma is a tumor on the ovaries that is benign. Dermoids are a fairly common occurrence. They very rarely are cancerous, and make up approximately 50% of all benign ovarian tumors. One or two percent of all dermoid cyst occurrences prove cancerous, with the majority of these being in women older than forty.

The early stages of a dermoid cyst determine whether or not it will eventually lead to cancer. In general, dermoid cysts are not often cancerous -- cancerous dermoid cysts are labeled as immature teratomas. There is little to no chance of a dermoid cyst that has generated hair, muscle fibers or other matter becoming cancerous.

A typical dermoid cyst is asymptomatic but can normally be found during a routine pelvic exam. They are seen as growths on an ovary, sometimes twisting themselves or rupturing, both which can cause severe pain in the abdominal or pelvic area. When dermoid cysts are found in the ovaries, it is often best to have them surgically removed to avoid future complications. The irritation of the abdominal cavity, called peritonitis, is very painful and likely if the dermoid cyst keeps growing.

Abdominal or pelvic pain is a primary sign that an ovarian cyst has burst or twisted. Surgical removal is usually the preferred course of action. Only a physician can diagnose a dermoid cyst, because the symptoms associated with it are not markedly different than those from other types of ovarian cysts.

As with all complex ovarian cysts, dermoid cysts need to be watched for complications. There are specific symptoms that women should report to their physicians. Neither fertility nor risk of pregnancy complications are affected by removing a dermoid cyst. Patients should still use caution following surgery to reduce the risk of scar tissue formation.

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