Age-Specific Characteristics and Malignancy Risk of Ovarian Teratomas: A Retrospective Single-Centre Study

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Ovarian teratomas are common germ cell tumors.
• Understanding age-specific patterns is crucial for diagnosis and management.
• Malignant transformation of teratomas requires prompt identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-specific characteristics of ovarian teratomas.
• To analyze associated malignancies in relation to patient age.
• To identify clinical differences in presentation across age groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 2181 women with ovarian teratoma.
• Surgical cases from January 2008 to April 2019.
• Classification of associated malignancies: immature teratoma, combined ovarian malignancy, and malignant transformation.

Main Results:

• Younger patients (<20 years) had higher rates of symptomatic presentation and tumor torsion.
• Tumor size was significantly larger in younger age groups.
• Incidence of immature teratoma, combined malignancy, and malignant transformation was low (0.5%, 0.4%, 0.4% respectively), with median ages of 24, 27, and 33 years.

Conclusions:

• Clinical manifestations of ovarian teratoma vary by age, with younger patients more symptomatic.
• Malignancies associated with teratomas predominantly occur in women of childbearing age.
• Preoperative evaluation and intraoperative assessment are vital for managing potential malignancies.