Common Misdiagnoses of Teratoma

A teratoma is a tumor encapsulated with organ components. These components are generally tissue from organs such as the brain, liver, lung and thyroid. In rare instances, a teratoma may contain bone, hair, teeth and very rarely eyes, torso, hands, feet or other limbs. Because they are encapsulated, the tumor is usually benign; however, there have been cases of a malignant teratoma. Mature teratomas are typically found in women and are usually benign, whereas the immature teratomas are typically malignant and found in men.

The cause of teratomas is generally unknown. However, many are embryonic and are present at an infant's birth. These congenital teratomas may occur in an infant's brain, skull, tongue, and very rarely in the heart or the lung. Teratomas of germ cell origin are usually present in the testes or ovaries of adult men and women. Some mature teratomas resemble a malformed fetus and contain a complete organ system as well as a torso and limbs. The controversy regarding these types of teratomas is still ongoing.

Proper Diagnosis of Teratoma

Diagnosis of a teratoma is through a histology which is performed by studying a tissue sample beneath a microscope. A pathologist will then make a definitive diagnosis based on the results. Generally, teratomas are classified according to a cancer staging system which indicates whether they are benign or malignant. If the teratoma is determined to be malignant or has a probability to metastasize, chemotherapy is the general course of action. In some cases, surgery and complete excision is recommended even when the tumor is benign. Because the tumor is encapsulated, the risk of spreading to surrounding tissue is low. However, surgical removal is difficult when the teratoma is located in the brain or has become interlaced with adjacent muscle.

Common Misdiagnoses of Teratoma

A misdiagnosis of teratoma can occur when the condition is mistaken as another disease such as ovarian cancer. A misdiagnosis not only delays the right therapy but may result in the wrong treatments and medications being prescribed which may aggravate the existing condition and harm the patient.

Talk with an Attorney

If your teratoma was misdiagnosed and you suffered harm as a result, you may have a cause of action for medical malpractice. You may recover damages including medical expenses that were accrued because of the mistake, lost wages for time taken from your job and in some cases, the undue pain and suffering from unnecessary treatments or from not receiving the proper treatment. Talk with an experienced medical malpractice attorney to discuss your case and possible compensation.