A homunculus is a representation of a small human being. Popularized in sixteenth-century alchemy and nineteenth-century fiction, it has historically referred to the creation of a miniature, fully formed human. The concept has roots in preformationism.
Ovarian cancer is a cancer that forms in or on an ovary. It results in abnormal cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. When this process begins, there may be no or only vague symptoms. Symptoms become more noticeable as the cancer progresses. These symptoms may include bloating, pelvic pain, abdominal swelling, and loss of appetite, among others. Common areas to which the cancer may spread include the lining of the abdomen, lymph nodes, lungs, and liver.
A dermoid cyst is a teratoma of a cystic nature that contains an array of developmentally mature, solid tissues. It frequently consists of skin, hair follicles, and sweat glands, while other commonly found components include clumps of long hair, pockets of sebum, blood, fat, bone, nails, teeth, eyes, cartilage, and thyroid tissue.
Fetus in fetu is a developmental abnormality in which a mass of tissue resembling a fetus forms inside the body. An early example of the phenomenon was described in 1808 by George William Young.
A germ-cell tumor (GCT) is a neoplasm derived from germ cells. Germ-cell tumors can be cancerous or benign. Germ cells normally occur inside the gonads. GCTs that originate outside the gonads may be birth defects resulting from errors during development of the embryo.
A struma ovarii is a rare form of monodermal teratoma that contains mostly thyroid tissue, which may cause hyperthyroidism.
Metepa is a chemosterilant, with the capability to restrict ovarian development. Metepa can also result in carcinogenesis, in particular the formation of teratomas.
Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is a type of tumor known as a teratoma that develops at the base of the coccyx (tailbone) and is thought to be derived from the primitive streak. Sacrococcygeal teratomas are benign 75% of the time, malignant 12% of the time, and the remainder are considered "immature teratomas" that share benign and malignant features. Benign sacrococcygeal teratomas are more likely to develop in younger children who are less than 5 months old, and older children are more likely to develop malignant sacrococcygeal teratomas. The Currarino triad, due to an autosomal dominant mutation in the MNX1 gene, consists of a presacral mass, anorectal malformation and sacral dysgenesis.
Ovarian tumors, or ovarian neoplasms, are tumors arising from the ovary. They can be benign or malignant.
The Currarino syndrome is an inherited congenital disorder where either the sacrum is not formed properly, or there is a mass in the presacral space in front of the sacrum, and (3) there are malformations of the anus or rectum. It can also cause an anterior meningocele or a presacral teratoma.
Limbic encephalitis is a form of encephalitis, a disease characterized by inflammation of the brain. Limbic encephalitis is caused by autoimmunity: an abnormal state where the body produces antibodies against itself. Some cases are associated with cancer and some are not. Although the disease is known as "limbic" encephalitis, it is seldom limited to the limbic system and post-mortem studies usually show involvement of other parts of the brain. The disease was first described by Brierley and others in 1960 as a series of three cases. The link to cancer was first noted in 1968 and confirmed by later investigators.
Anti-glutamate receptor antibodies are autoantibodies detected in serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid samples of a variety of disorders such as encephalitis, epilepsy and ataxia. Recent clinical and experimental studies suggest that these antibodies are not simply epiphenomena and are involved in autoimmune disease pathogenesis.
A pelvic tumor is any one of numerous tumors that occur in the pelvis. Within the pelvis, these tumors may involve specific organs, or occupy intra-organ spaces. Tumors of the presacral space and sacral space are most prevalent in children. Tumors occupying specific organs have a more complex natural history.
A teratoma is a tumor of germ cell origin, containing tissues from more than one germ cell line. It can be ovarian or testicular in its origin.
In gynecology, a Rokitansky nodule is a mass or lump in an ovarian teratomatous cyst.
Autoamputation is the spontaneous detachment (amputation) of an appendage from the body. This is not to be confused with self-amputation. It is usually due to destruction of the blood vessels feeding an extremity such as the finger tips. Once the vessels are destroyed, the tissue is starved of oxygen and dies, which is often followed by gangrene. Autoamputation is a feature of ainhum, cryoglobulinemia and thromboangiitis obliterans. In 1881, Thornton made the case of autoamputation. Autoamputation could be the result of severe cases of certain chronic wounds, such as frostbite. These chronic wounds might be due to some vascular and pathogenic conditions like Buerger disease other called thromboangiitis obliterans, Raynaud’s disease and Reynaud’s phenomenon. Also, an uncontrolled diabetes can predispose one to autoamputation. However, autoamputation has been described as spontaneous. Autoamputation has often been associated with fingers and toes but other parts of the body can suffer this condition as well.There have been reported cases of ovarian autoamputation in a newborn and also in a mature ovary of adults. Autoamputation has been reported to affect the tip of fingers. Though autoamputation is often regarded as an acquired ailment, it could also be congenital. Chronic torsion or a delay in the diagnosis of acute adnextal torsion has been attributed as causes of acquired autoamputation
Endodermal sinus tumor (EST), also known as yolk sac tumor (YST), is a member of the germ cell tumor group of cancers. It is the most common testicular tumor in children under 3, and is also known as infantile embryonal carcinoma. This age group has a very good prognosis. In contrast to the pure form typical of infants, adult endodermal sinus tumors are often found in combination with other kinds of germ cell tumor, particularly teratoma and embryonal carcinoma. While pure teratoma is usually benign, endodermal sinus tumor is malignant.
The strumal carcinoid is a type of monodermal teratoma with histomorphologic features of (1) the thyroid gland and (2) a neuroendocrine tumour (carcinoid).
Like a Virgin: How Science Is Redesigning the Rules of Sex is a book by the former cancer genetics researcher Aarathi Prasad exploring virgin birth through the whiptail lizard, the stingless wasp, the electric ant and the Beltsville small white turkey. Prasad also explores the possibilities of virgin birth in humans and touches on ovarian teratomas.