Treatment will depend on whether the tumor is a mature or immature teratoma. If the tumor is a mature teratoma, the treatment will be surgery to remove the tumor and possibly some of the surrounding tissues or structures. If the tumor is an immature teratoma, treatment will be surgery with or without chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with childhood teratoma ¹.

Glossary Terms

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A rare type of malignant (cancer) germ cell tumor (type of tumor that begins in the cells that give rise to sperm or eggs) that often contains several different types of tissue such as hair, muscle, and bone.

A type of benign (noncancerous) germ cell tumor (type of tumor that begins in the cells that give rise to sperm or eggs) that often contains several different types of tissue such as hair, muscle, and bone. Also called a dermoid cyst.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called neoplasm.