"Possible" dermoid?

[journeynsolace]

I keep reading that dermoids seen on scans show hair/teeth, but no one's said that about me, so I'm scared that it's something worse and only a "possible" dermoid. Here's the situation: the ultrasound technician said it looked like a dermoid during the transvaginal and abdominal ultrasound.

Here's the radiologist's report word for word: "Findings: A normal appearing right ovary is not seen. Within the right adnexa, there is a 3.8x8.4x3.6 mass mainly solid in appearance, however it does show some foci of increased echoes, as well as some ill-defined diminished echo activity at several sites. Definite free adnexal fluid is not seen. Impressions: Complex mixed mainly solid right adnexal mass. There are no large cystic components identified. Possibility of dermoid is raised."

I've consulted with a gyn/onc and he seemed to indicate it was a dermoid too (talking about the problems of dermoids, etc.). I left with my surgery packet and said I'd call to schedule the surgery. With all the talk of dermoids, I didn't think it was urgent, so I scheduled it in eight weeks during a work break.

Now, I've been researching phrases like "complex mass" and "mainly solid", and I'm getting more scared that this "possible dermoid" might be ovarian cancer! It seems that being solid and complex increase the likelihood of malignancy.

Should I move the surgery up? Maybe the gyn/onc thought that "check my schedule" meant I'd schedule it in the next few weeks and not eight weeks later. I didn't talk to the doctor again when I called and scheduled, so the scheduler wouldn’t know anything about my case.

Am I panicking over 4-5 weeks of a treatment delay that wouldn't make a difference if it is ovarian cancer?!?

What does "some foci of increased echoes, as well as some ill-defined diminished echo activity at several sites" mean? Is this what images of teeth/hair look like on ultrasound (but they just don't put teeth/hair in the report)?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There
ultimately
it is not possible for me to make a diagnosis without seeing the films
I would say that ultimately the final diagnosis comes with removing it
I know it is very anxiety provoking.
the fact that it has been present for a long time goes along with it most likely being benign
best wishes

[journeynsolace]

PS: I've felt it in my abdomen for over a year now. (I was overseas and didn't want to see a doctor there. I know that was a bad decision.) If it were cancer, would it be causing other problems by now (pain, bleeding, bloating, ascites, etc.)?

Also, the bump I feel in my abdomen is about an inch lower than my belly button and almost perfectly in the center. If I lay on my right side, it seems to move over to the left/below my belly button. Why would the right ovary be felt there instead of to the lower right?

[journeynsolace]

The first thing the ultrasound technician said during the ultrasound was that it looked like a dermoid to her and that was the first time I'd ever heard of them.

The gyn/onc reviewed the ultrasound report and did an exam and immediately began talking about it as a dermoid, not mentioning the possibility of cancer. There was no talk of doing a CA125 test or anything else... just schedule surgery to remove it and discussion of the potential risk of not doing surgery at all (that it could rupture or cut off the blood supply to the ovary).

I didn't get the impression from the meeting with the gyn/onc that there was urgency. I just started freaking out later when I began researching "complex" and "mainly solid" masses online.

The radiologist report says, ""Findings: A normal appearing right ovary is not seen. Within the right adnexa, there is a 3.8x8.4x3.6 mass mainly solid in appearance, however it does show some foci of increased echoes, as well as some ill-defined diminished echo activity at several sites. Definite free adnexal fluid is not seen. Impressions: Complex mixed mainly solid right adnexal mass. There are no large cystic components identified. Possibility of dermoid is raised."

Does that sound like a dermoid to you?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There
sorry I see this is relted to the last post
8 cm and complex would seem to me to merit quick surgery
however dermoids which are benign tumors have a very distinctive look by ultrasound.
if the radiologist thinks it is a dermoid , it is ok to wait.
you should double check.
best wishes