Definition

A type of cancer that originates from germ cells, often found in the testes, and is characterized by the presence of both malignant and embryonic tissue.

Example

The doctor diagnosed him with teratocarcinoma after examining the tumor.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of teratocarcinoma?

Yeah, I think it's a type of cancer, right?

Exactly, it's a malignant tumor that can develop in the testes.

That sounds really serious; I hope people can get the help they need.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Teratocarcinoma is formed from "terato-" (from Greek "teratos", meaning monster or abnormal) and "carcinoma" (from Greek "karkinoma", meaning cancer). The word describes a type of cancer that contains both abnormal tissue and cancerous cells, often resembling a monstrous growth.

Memory Tip

Think of 'terato-' meaning 'monster' and 'carcinoma' meaning 'cancer' — together, they describe a monstrous form of cancer.

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