teratoid tumor


ter·a·to·ma

(ter'ă-tō'mă), A type of germ cell tumor 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, they are usually malignant; and, uncommonly, in other sites, especially the midline of the body. Synonym(s): teratoid tumor [terato- + G. -oma, tumor]
A benign congenital malformation of young, often female children arising from ecto- and mesodermal totipotent cells in the nasopharynx, oropharynx and tonsils
DiffDx Intranasal glioma, rhabdomyosarcoma, meningoencephalocele, Rathke pouch cyst, pharyngeal hypophysis, craniopharyngioma

ter·a·to·ma

(ter'ă-tō'mă) 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.
Synonym(s): teratoid tumor.
[terato- + G. -oma, tumor]