[Morphology and clinic of ovarial teratomas (author's transl)]

This analysis covers 170 patients with teratomas from 1965-1978 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Heidelberg University. Malignant teratomas were found in two patients; in a special case, a "gliomatosis peritonei" was identified. The histological composition, the degree of maturity, grading and clinical staging were compared with regard to the prognosis and for obtaining an optimal therapeutic approach and procedure. Under the condition that an accurate and extensive histological diagnosis is obtained, "conservative surgery" seems to be the optimal therapy in fertile patients. In case of malignant teratoma, radical surgery followed by chemotherapy is imperative.