Teratoma: Types, symptoms, and causes - Medical News Today
A teratoma is a rare type of germ cell tumor (GCT) that may contain different types of tissue. These tumors occur most commonly in the ovaries, testicles, and tailbone. However, they can occur elsewhere in the body. Teratomas are a type of GCT. This term refers to a tumor that develops from germ cells , which are the cells that develop into the cells that make up the male and female reproductive systems. This is why teratomas commonly occur in the testes and ovaries. However, germ cells can migrate to other parts of the body and develop into tumors known as extragonadal germ cell tumors . Teratomas can appear in newborns, children, or adults. They may be benign, meaning noncancerous, or malignant. The treatment plan for a teratoma will typically involve surgery. In this article, we discuss teratomas in more detail, including the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of this type of tumor. A teratoma is a type of tumor that may contain many different tissues. Its name comes from t...