Of the different kinds of ovarian cysts, the most grotesque and bizarre are dermoid cysts. They're classified as a non-cancerous type of teratoma. Teratoma is a Greek word and translates as "monster tumor".

It is because of its freakishness that a lot of myths about this condition have evolved. Decisions regarding your health should never be based on myths instead of the facts. In this article, I will deal with 3 common questions that get asked about dermoid cysts.

1.) What are dermoid cysts?

Dermoid cysts may consist of any type of human tissue. This can include hair, nails, bone, cartilage, teeth, neural tissue, eyes, fat, sweat glands, thyroid tissue, blood, and skin.

This is due to the fact that these cysts arise from germ cells that are undifferentiated. These cells can grow into any of the various tissues found in the human body.

2.) Who can be affected by dermoid cysts?

Dermoid cysts on the neck, face, and scalp can afflict anyone regardless of their age or sex. Dermoids can occur at birth. But ovarian dermoid cysts typically occur in women during their child bearing years from twenty to forty years of age. Only one ovary is normally affected but they can grow on both ovaries fifteen percent of the time.

3.) What are the health risks?

Despite their dreadful appearance, dermoid cysts are rarely ever cancerous. If there are distinct structures in the cyst such as hair, teeth, etc., the risk of cancer is very remote. These rare cancers will normally affect women in their forties and older.

The health risks associated with benign dermoids are determined by their size. Small cysts normally present no symptoms and are detected during a medical examination. X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, and an MRI may be used to determine if the cyst is dermoid.

If a cyst continues to grow, it may get inflamed. The abdominal cavity may also become irritated, a condition known as peritonitis.

A more common problem is that they may twist on themselves and possibly block off blood to the ovary. There is also the possibility of rupturing with the release of its contents into the abdominal cavity. If none of these problems occur with increased growth, they may still press against and interfere with the normal functioning of the surrounding organs.

Since a dermoid cyst will not go away on its own, surgical removal may be required if any of the above health risks present themselves. However, regardless of size, dermoid cysts need to be closely monitored by your doctor.