On 8/8, Associate Professor Dang Khai Toan, Deputy Head of the General Surgery Department at Nhan Dan 115 Hospital, reported that the patient's abdomen contained pus and hair from a ruptured ovarian teratoma on her right side, measuring approximately 15 cm. The surgical team also discovered another 7 cm teratoma on her left ovary.

Doctors removed the entire right ovary and the ruptured teratoma while also excising the teratoma on the left ovary, preserving the left ovary. The patient recovered well and was discharged 5 days after surgery in stable condition.

Ovarian teratomas are germ cell tumors commonly found in women of reproductive age, though they can also occur in younger women. Most are benign. However, because they contain various tissues like hair, skin, and teeth, if they grow large or rupture, they can cause dangerous complications like torsion, bleeding, infection, or life-threatening peritonitis, as in this case.

According to Associate Professor Nguyen Quang Huy, Head of the General Surgery Department at Nhan Dan 115 Hospital, teratomas often develop silently without noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Many cases are discovered incidentally during routine ultrasounds or when patients are hospitalized for abdominal pain or menstrual irregularities.

"With large or ruptured teratomas, the situation can quickly become critical, requiring urgent intervention," he said.

Surgeons operating at a hospital in TP HCM. Photo: Quynh Tran

Women should have regular gynecological checkups at least once a year, even if they have no symptoms. Women 30 years and older, or those with a history of ovarian cysts or gynecological diseases, should have more frequent checkups. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms such as persistent or severe lower abdominal pain, menstrual irregularities, a feeling of abdominal heaviness or bloating, or unexplained fatigue.

Le Phuong