What it means
A dermoid cyst, or mature cystic teratoma, grows from the egg-making cells of the ovary, which can form many kinds of tissue. So it may hold fat, oily fluid, hair, skin, and sometimes bone or teeth. That mix gives a typical picture. Ultrasound shows a very bright lump with a shadow and fine lines from hair. CT or MRI shows clear fat, often with specks of calcium.
When it matters
Dermoid cysts are benign and most often found during the childbearing years. They grow slowly and do not go away on their own. Small ones may be watched with ultrasound. Larger ones are often removed because they can twist the ovary (torsion), which causes sudden severe pain and is an emergency. Rarely, cancer develops in a dermoid, mostly after menopause, so fast growth or solid areas get a closer look.
Questions to ask your doctor
- How big is the dermoid, and does it need to be removed?
- Is there any sign that it is twisting the ovary?
- Does my other ovary look normal too?
