In Cheboksary, surgeons reported the removal of a remarkably large mature teratoma from a woman. The tumor measured about 40 centimeters and contained teeth and hair, a striking example of how giant ovarian-related growths can present. The case was shared through the press center of the Cumhuriyet Clinical Oncology Dispensary, underscoring the unusual scale such tumors can reach and the urgent care they require.
The patient arrived at the hospital with a combination of breathing difficulties, ongoing constipation, fatigue, and a rapidly enlarging abdominal contour. Initial assessment raised concern for an ovarian malignancy, but imaging and surgical exploration revealed a sizable benign mass. The teratoma occupied a major portion of the abdominal cavity, displacing and compressing adjacent organs, compromising their function, and drawing nourishment from sizable blood vessels, raising the risk of significant blood loss during any intervention.
An operation to excise the mass extended beyond two hours. Surgeons removed fatty tissue, hair, and teeth that were embedded within the tumor.
A mature teratoma is a benign growth originating from primitive embryonic tissue. While rare, cases of exceptionally large teratomas do occur. Most often, these tumors are detected earlier, when conservative, organ-preserving procedures and minimally invasive techniques can be employed to minimize trauma and enhance recovery. The head of the gynecologic oncology department, Dmitry Glyakin, noted that early detection typically allows for safer, less invasive treatment and a better prognosis. [citation: Cumhuriyet Clinical Oncology Dispensary]
There are widely reported instances in medical literature of teratomas extending beyond their origin, sometimes creating unusual extensions that may appear as a “tail” reaching toward the pelvis and surrounding structures. In this case, careful surgical planning and teamwork were essential to ensure complete removal while maintaining function of the abdominal organs and networks. [citation: medical literature]