Dermoid ovarian cysts, or mature cystic teratomas, are a nonfunctional type of cyst that forms on the ovary. This type of cyst is the most common type of germ cell tumor (Mo et al. 2013). This disease was of interest to me because I have had an ovarian cyst before, although mine was a different type, I had similar complications that normally follow a dermoid ovarian cyst.
Causes of the disease and symptoms Dermoid ovarian cysts develop when totipotent germ cells become over stimulated in women of childbearing or reproductive years, usually women within twenty to forty years of age. Although some cases have shown women as young as fourteen with a dermoid ovarian cyst (Mo et al. 2013). There is no direct cause for dermoid ovarian cysts. Majority …show more content…
If a patient is asymptomatic and a cyst is found during a routine pelvic exam, a doctor may suggest to get it removed or to closely monitor the cysts size until removal is necessary. An ovarian dermoid cyst can grow at different rates, it may take particular patients years until the removal of the cyst is necessary. However, removal of ovarian dermoid cysts is the treatment of choice. An ovarian dermoid cyst can become too large and eventually move the ovary, or cause the ovary to twist, this can cut off the blood supply to the ovary and eventually cause necrosis. Ovarian torsions need immediate intervention to prevent necrosis, ultra sounds are primarily used to detect the cyst and torsion. Although pelvic MRI’s and CT’s are sometimes used, if the patient is suspected to have an ovarian torsion ultra sounds are used because they are faster. The procedure is usually done via laparoscopic surgery (Callen, n.d.). Laparoscopic surgery is primarily used because it is a low risk procedure, minimally invasive, some patients can go home the same day, and typically patients are back to their normal routine in about a week. Although healing time depends entirely on the patient. The patient is put under anesthesia and a tube is normally inserted through the belly button and another one is inserted through a small incision on the abdomen. The tube has a camera and a light, allowing surgeons to view the cyst on a screen. Patients may stay overnight, depending on their reaction to the anesthesia and the surgical procedure. Patients may opt to have a bilateral salpingooophorectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy, depending on their family history of ovarian cancer. Some patients opt to have a hysterectomy, if they have a family history of uterine cancer (Mo et al. 1999). According to a case study done over the span of ten years, involving eighty one patients who
Causes of the disease and symptoms Dermoid ovarian cysts develop when totipotent germ cells become over stimulated in women of childbearing or reproductive years, usually women within twenty to forty years of age. Although some cases have shown women as young as fourteen with a dermoid ovarian cyst (Mo et al. 2013). There is no direct cause for dermoid ovarian cysts. Majority …show more content…
If a patient is asymptomatic and a cyst is found during a routine pelvic exam, a doctor may suggest to get it removed or to closely monitor the cysts size until removal is necessary. An ovarian dermoid cyst can grow at different rates, it may take particular patients years until the removal of the cyst is necessary. However, removal of ovarian dermoid cysts is the treatment of choice. An ovarian dermoid cyst can become too large and eventually move the ovary, or cause the ovary to twist, this can cut off the blood supply to the ovary and eventually cause necrosis. Ovarian torsions need immediate intervention to prevent necrosis, ultra sounds are primarily used to detect the cyst and torsion. Although pelvic MRI’s and CT’s are sometimes used, if the patient is suspected to have an ovarian torsion ultra sounds are used because they are faster. The procedure is usually done via laparoscopic surgery (Callen, n.d.). Laparoscopic surgery is primarily used because it is a low risk procedure, minimally invasive, some patients can go home the same day, and typically patients are back to their normal routine in about a week. Although healing time depends entirely on the patient. The patient is put under anesthesia and a tube is normally inserted through the belly button and another one is inserted through a small incision on the abdomen. The tube has a camera and a light, allowing surgeons to view the cyst on a screen. Patients may stay overnight, depending on their reaction to the anesthesia and the surgical procedure. Patients may opt to have a bilateral salpingooophorectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy, depending on their family history of ovarian cancer. Some patients opt to have a hysterectomy, if they have a family history of uterine cancer (Mo et al. 1999). According to a case study done over the span of ten years, involving eighty one patients who