Treatment of Childhood Mature and Immature Teratomas

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

Treatment of newly diagnosed mature teratomas includes the following:

• Surgery to remove the tumor followed by observation.

Treatment of newly diagnosed immature teratomas includes the following:

• Surgery to remove the tumor followed by observation for stage I tumors.
• Surgery to remove the tumor for stage I–IV tumors. In young children, surgery is followed by observation; the use of chemotherapy after surgery is controversial. In adolescents and young adults, chemotherapy is given after surgery.

Sometimes a mature or immature teratoma also has malignant cells. A teratoma with malignant cells may need to be treated differently.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.