A Tumor with a Mind of Its Own
Written by Laasya Alampali
What’s stranger than fiction? Teratomas. These tumors could potentially have hair, teeth, and even a bit of bone- yes, it’s as bizarre as it sounds.
What is a tumor?
A tumor, also known as a neoplasm, is formed when abnormal cells group together into a tissue of solid mass. Tumors can appear in a wide array of forms and be present anywhere in your body. When most people hear the word “tumor,” the first thought that instantly penetrates their mind is cancer, however not all tumors are cancerous. Tumors are divided into two main categories, benign and malignant. Benign tumors are noncancerous, they are slow-growing and do not diffuse into the rest of the body. Malignant tumors, however, are cancerous. These tumors form when cells divide at an abnormal rate and spread further into the body.
How are teratomas formed?
A teratoma is a germ cell tumor, meaning it starts in the body’s reproductive cells, the sperm and egg cells. Because of this starting point, most teratomas grow in the ovaries or testicles, these are called gonadal teratomas. Germ cells are the only cells in the body that possess the ability to grow into other cells. Germ cells are unspecialized, meaning these cells do not have a specific function yet. In most cases, germ cells turn into the body’s specialized sperm and egg cells, however, in a few rare cases these germ cells become other specialized cells. This is the reasoning behind teratomas containing a collection of various body structures, the most common being teeth, hair, and muscle.
Teratomas can be branched into two types, mature and immature. Mature teratomas are most likely benign, however there is a small chance of them becoming malignant. Immature teratomas are cancerous and metastatic, meaning they will spread into the rest of the body.
References
Germ line. (n.d.). Genome.gov. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/germ line#:~:text=Definition,which%20are%20called%20somatic%20cells.
Neoplasm (Tumor). (2023, June 28). Yale Medicine.
https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/neoplasm
Teratoma. (2024, May 1). Cleveland Clinic.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22074-teratoma
Written by Laasya Alampali from MEDILOQUY