Malignant teratoma

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Teratoma - MRI scan

Malignant teratoma

Alternative Names:

Dermoid cyst - malignant; Nonseminomatous germ cell tumor - teratoma; Immature teratoma
Treatment:

Because malignant teratomas have often spread by the time of diagnosis, anticancer chemotherapy is usually needed. Cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin are commonly used as a combination of chemotherapy.

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After chemotherapy is complete, CT scans are repeated. If there is a residual mass in the area of the tumor, surgery is recommended because of the possibility that the cancer will grow back in that area.

Support Groups:

There are many support groups available for people with cancer. Contact the American Cancer Society or search the Internet to find one near you. Research has shown that women with breast cancer survive longer if they participate in a support group and the same may be true for other cancers.

Expectations (prognosis):

The prognosis for people with malignant teratomas is based on the size of the tumor, its location, and the age of the patient. In young patients, less than 15 years of age, teratomas are more likely to be benign. For adults, complete remission is possible in 50 - 70% of patients, and about 42% will see long-term survival.

Complications:

The cancer can spread throughout the body and there may be complications of surgery or related to chemotherapy.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms suggestive of malignant teratoma.