Cancer Discovered Hidden Inside 13-Centimeter Teratoma During General Health Checkup
Early-stage cancer cells were detected in a giant mass of a postmenopausal woman who underwent a routine checkup in Vietnam.
Traveling from the US to Vietnam, a postmenopausal woman named Ms. Thu learned during a general health checkup at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City that she had a 13-centimeter ovarian teratoma with early-stage ovarian cancer hidden inside.
From Routine to Cancer Diagnosis
Ms. Thu, who traveled from the US to Vietnam for tourism and a general health checkup, returned to Vietnam in early September to visit relatives and undergo a general health checkup at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
An abdominal ultrasound revealed that Ms. Thu had an ovarian teratoma measuring 13 x 13 x 13.5 cm. Her uterus contained numerous fibroids and polyps, and her endometrium was abnormally thickened.
Detailed Examinations and Surgery Decision
Dr. Ung Quoc Thuong from the hospital's Obstetrics and Gynecology Center stated that the tumor was large and appeared in a postmenopausal woman, making a comprehensive assessment of the risk of malignant tumors necessary.
Although initial test results did not strongly suggest cancer, the possibility of a malignant tumor could not be completely ruled out, and doctors recommended surgery to remove the tumor and conduct a thorough evaluation.
Comprehensive Surgical Operation Performed
Doctors performed a total oophorectomy and hysterectomy on the patient. After an operation lasting about three hours, the entire uterus, both ovaries, and the ovarian tumor were removed intact.
The team also discovered several tissues suspected of being highly malignant and performed a radical operation including omental resection and colonic gutter peritoneal resection for post-operative evaluation.
Pathology Results and Cancer Detection
After the surgery, the surgeon dissected the tumor to examine it, revealing adipose tissue, hair, and fluid, which are common components of a teratoma.
Examination of tissue samples from the tumor under a microscope detected squamous cell carcinoma arising from a mature teratoma at stage T1a, and the cancer was found to remain localized in the left ovary.
Warning from Experts on Regular Gynecological Examinations
Dr. Thuong stated that approximately 0.17 to 2 percent of mature ovarian cystic teratoma cases can transform into malignant tumors, and this transformation usually progresses silently.
It was emphasized that women should undergo regular gynecological examinations to detect abnormalities in their reproductive organs early.