In the case of a dermoid, hair, brain tissue, and teeth are often present. Even a part of a jaw bone isn t unheard of. Glandular tissue can function to cause hyperthyroidism or adrenal-like problems. The glandular and other clinical manifestations can cause confusion in the diagnosis which delays addressing the real problem, which is of course gynecological. Spilling the contents of a dermoid cyst, as mentioned above, can delay recovery with its resulting peritonitis.
Some benign tumors can have estrogen production with resulting menstrual problems.
If a fibroma of the ovary puts out estrogen, a patient may present with no periods at all and feeling like she s pregnant. Other cysts can have serous or mucous products which can swell an ovarian cyst to extremely large sizes. A functional cyst, as described last week, can disappear on its own or with the temporary use of birth control pills. This is called torsion, and death of the ovary occurs because the blood supply is twisted off. At the time of surgery care must be taken not to untwist a dead ovary without clamping the veins leading away, lest toxic substances get into the circulation.