Malignant teratoma

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Teratoma - MRI scan

Malignant teratoma

Definition:

Malignant teratoma is a type of cancer consisting of cysts that contain one or more of the three main types of cells present in embryos -- ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm cells.

Alternative Names:

Dermoid cyst - malignant; Nonseminomatous germ cell tumor - teratoma; Immature teratoma

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Malignant teratoma occurs most often in young men in their 20's - 30's. It is often located in the anterior mediastinum (in the chest). Most malignant teratomas have spread (metastasized) by the time of diagnosis and they can spread throughout the body.

A number of other cancers are often associated with these tumors including:

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
Myelodysplasia (MDS)
Malignant histiocytosis
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma
Small cell undifferentiated carcinoma

Review Date: 8/3/2004
Reviewed By: Marcia S. Brose, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Hematology/Oncology, The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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