ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Teratoma

Okay kiddo, a teratoma is like a weird lump that can grow in your body, but it's not just any old lump. You see, a teratoma is made up of all sorts of different tissues, like skin, hair, teeth, and even sometimes bone or cartilage. It's like a tiny little monster that has grown inside you!

Now, sometimes teratomas can cause problems if they grow in the wrong place, like if they start pressing on important organs. But other times, they might not cause any problems at all and you might not even know you have one. And sometimes, doctors can even take them out if they need to.

But the really interesting thing about teratomas is that they can sometimes grow things that shouldn't be growing inside you, like hair or teeth. Yep, you heard that right - a teratoma can actually grow its own little hair or teeth! Isn't that crazy?

So there you have it, kiddo - a teratoma is a strange lump that can grow inside your body, full of all sorts of different tissues, and sometimes even grows its own hair or teeth. But don't worry too much about it, because doctors can usually take care of it if they need to!