teratoma

teratoma
A neoplasm composed of multiple tissues, including tissues not normally found in the organ in which it arises. Teratomas occur most frequently in the ovary, where they are usually benign and form dermoid cysts; in the testis, where they are usually malignant; and, uncommonly, in other sites, especially the midline of the body. SYN: teratoid tumor. [terato- + G. -oma, tumor]
- t. orbitae SYN: orbitopagus.
- sacrococcygeal t. found in the region of the tailbud. Most common tumor in the newborn period.
- triphyllomatous t. a t. composed of tissues derived from all three germ layers. SYN: tridermoma.

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ter·a·to·ma .ter-ə-'tō-mə n, pl -mas also -ma·ta -mət-ə a tumor derived from more than one embryonic layer and made up of a heterogeneous mixture of tissues (as epithelium, bone, cartilage, or muscle)
ter·a·to·ma·tous -mət-əs adj

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n.
a tumour composed of a number of tissues not usually found at that site. Teratomas most frequently occur in the testis and ovary, possibly derived from remnants of embryological cells that have the ability to differentiate into many types of tissue. Malignant teratoma of the testis is found in young men: it is more common in patients with a history of undescended testis. Like seminoma, it frequently occurs as a painless swelling of one testis (pain is not a good indication that the swelling is benign). Treatment is by orchidectomy avoiding an incision into the scrotum. The tumour can spread to lymph nodes, lungs, and bone, treatment of which may involve the use of chemotherapy drugs, such as vinblastine, bleomycin, cisplatin, and etoposide, with a high cure rate even in metastatic disease. Teratomas often produce alpha-fetoprotein, beta human chorionic gonadotrophin, or both; the presence of these substances (tumour marker) in the blood is a useful indication of the amount of tumour and the effect of treatment.

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ter·a·to·ma (ter″ə-toґmə) pl. teratomas, teratoґmata [terat- + -oma] a type of germ cell tumor derived from pluripotent cells and made up of elements of different types of tissue from one or more of the three germ cell layers; most often found in the ovary or testis in adults and in the sacrococcygeal region in children. Teratomas range from benign (mature, dermoid, and cystic) to malignant (immature and solid). Called also dysembryoma, teratoblastoma, organoid tumor, and teratoid tumor. teratomatous adj

Opened mature cystic teratoma (dermoid cyst) of the ovary, containing a mixture of tissues, including hair (bottom).


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Teratoma — Classification and external resources Micrograph of a teratoma showing tissue from all three germ layers: mesoderm (immature cartilage left upper corner of image), endoderm (gastrointestinal glands cente …   Wikipedia

  • Teratoma — Micrografía de un teratoma con componentes gastrointestinales (arriba a la derecha) cartílago (abajo, a la derecha) y tejido adiposo (abajo a la izquierda). Tinción con hematoxilina Eosina …   Wikipedia Español

  • teratoma — m. oncol. Tumor, generalmente de carácter benigno, que se desarrolla a partir de células embrionarias o poco diferenciadas propias de diversos tejidos. Suelen producirse en testículos, ovarios, mediastino, etc. El tratamiento más adecuado es la… …   Diccionario médico

  • Teratoma — Ter a*to ma, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, ?, monster + oma.] (Med.) A tumor, sometimes found in newborn children, which is made up of a heterigenous mixture of tissues, as of bone, cartilage and muscle. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • teratoma — teratoma. См. тератома. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • teratoma — m. Med. Tumor de origen embrionario …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • teratoma — [ter΄ə tō′mə] n. [ TERAT(O) + OMA] a tumor containing various kinds of embryonic tissue, as of hair and teeth …   English World dictionary

  • teratoma — (Del gr. teras, teratos, monstruo + oma , tumor.) ► sustantivo masculino MEDICINA Tumor de origen embrionario. * * * teratoma (de «terato » y « oma») m. Med. Tumor de origen embrionario. * * * teratoma. m …   Enciclopedia Universal

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  • teratoma — noun /tɛrəˈtəʊmə/ A benign or malignant tumour, especially of the gonads, that arises from germ cells and consists of different types of tissue such as skin, hair, or muscle. ‘What is a teratoma?’ asked Jack, holding the object in his hand. ‘A… …   Wiktionary

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