Comparative Analysis of Benign Tumour Development in Young Females: Uterine Fibroids vs Ovarian Teratomas

Abstract

Benign gynaecological tumours, such as uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) and ovarian teratomas, are non-malignant proliferative growths that occur in the reproductive system of young females but differ substantially in their origin, clinical behaviour, and management. The aim of this study is to comparatively evaluate uterine fibroids and ovarian teratomas with respect to epidemiology, pathogenesis, histopathological features, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies. This study review was conducted using published literature from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. This paper shows the comparative assessment of uterine fibroids as monoclonal, estrogen- and progesterone-dependent smooth muscle tumours, which become more prevalent with an increase in age and are common among women of African descent. While ovarian teratomas are germ cell tumours arising from totipotent cells by parthenogenetic mechanisms and are common in adolescents and young women, with the most common subtype being the mature cystic teratomas. Histologically, fibroids are characterised by uniform proliferation of smooth muscle with deposition of extracellular matrix, whereas teratomas are characterised by the presence of tissues that are derived out of more than one germ layer. Studies show that management approaches of these tumours differ, with fibroids requiring both medical and surgical interventions depending on symptom severity, while teratomas are predominantly managed through surgical excision. In conclusion, the comparative analysis of these tumours is necessary for proper diagnosis to provide personalised and fertility-preserving treatment in young females with this condition.