What Are Dermoid Cysts - Common Symptoms And Treatment

Dermoid cysts can occur in any person, regardless of race, sex, and age. They can grow on any part of the body but are often found on the face, neck or scalp. They are usually apparent at birth in these cases. Dermoid cysts can also develop in the ovary and, of course, this only occurs among women.

Totipotential germ cells can develop into a complex ovarian cyst known as a dermoid cyst. These cysts can contain solid tissue such as hair, teeth, or in some cases bone. They can occur at anytime in a women’s life but are more common during the childbirth years (ages of 20 to 40). When dermoid cysts cut off the circulation to ovaries, they can cause intense pain that requires surgical removal. These cysts can also develop on a person’s face, neck, or scalp.

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.

Cancerous dermoid cysts are referred to as immature teratomas. The development that occurs early on will determine if or not a dermoid cyst may become cancerous. Dermoid cysts are rarely ever cancerous, and can vary in its content, often known to contain hair, sweat glands, cartilage, and muscle fibers. There is slim to no chance that a dermoid cyst will turn into a cancerous cyst once there are hairs or other similar features that appear on it.

Typically, a dermoid cyst appears as a growth on an ovary and is discovered during a routine pelvic exam. Usually the cysts are asymptomatic, but occasionally they twist or rupture, causing significant pain in the abdomen or pelvic region.In order to avoid any complications down the road, it is best to remove any dermoid cysts found on a woman’s ovaries. A condition called peritonitis or irritation of the abdominal cavity, is likely to occur if the cyst is allowed to grow, and can be extremely painful.

An ovarian cyst can twist or burst, which causes abdominal pain or pain in the pelvic area. This is the most common symptom of a dermoid cyst. In this instance, the cyst will usually be removed surgically. The symptoms will not differ from a dermoid cyst and any other ovarian cyst, and can only be identified as an ovarian dermoid cyst by a doctor.

As is the case with any other type of complex ovarian cyst, a dermoid cyst requires repeated examination to avoid future complications. There are specific symptoms that women should be aware of and contact their health care provider if they experience them. 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.