A malignant teratoma is a type of cancer consisting of cysts that
contain one or more of the three primary embryonic germ layers:
ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Because malignant teratomas have
usually spread by the time of diagnosis, systemic chemotherapy is
needed. The prognosis for people with malignant teratomas is based
on the size of the tumor, its location and the age of the patient.
Review Date: 09/26/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow
Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed
by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
