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scottobearWho: N/A
When: Oct-1991
Where: N/A
What: 303 lbs
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The largest tumor removed intact was a multicystic mass of the right ovary weighing 137.6 kg. (303 lb.). The operation was performed by Professor Katherine O'Hanlan of Stanford University Medical Center, California, USA.
The growth had a diameter of 1 m. (3 ft.) and was removed in its entirety in October, 1991, from the abdomen of an unnamed 34-year-old woman. The patient - who weighed 95 kg. (210 lb.) after the operation, and who has made a full recovery - left the operating theatre on one stretcher, with her cyst on another.
Side note - (The woman who had the tumor was agoraphobic and had been bed-ridden for the last two years. It was in her abdomen. When they did the pathology report they found out it was benign but had "hair and teeth" growing in it. )
More info - from my hero, Cecil of the straight dope -
A friend told me about a woman who had a tumor removed from her ovary (or something in that area), and the tumor had hair and teeth. She was young and I think a virgin, so this couldn't have been the beginnings of a baby. Have you heard of this happening, or is my friend pulling my leg?
All together now: Ewwwwww.
No, the tumor wasn't the beginnings of a baby. But yeah, it might have had hair and teeth. Dunno about you, but this ranks way up there on the list of things I could stand not to know.
The tumor we're talking about here is called a teratoma. At one time teratomas (which are usually benign) were thought to originate in some sort of embryonic or quasi-embryonic cell gone wrong. But most experts now consider them a type of germ-cell tumor--in this case a tumor involving an egg. Though the egg is unfertilized, tumor-driven cell division results in a lot of the same stuff you see in a developing fetus, including cartilage, bone, teeth, hair, brain tissue, and sometimes even bowel, skull, vertebrae, and eyes. It's all chaotically arranged and bears no resemblance to an actual embryo. Nonetheless, since larger teratomas can weigh several pounds ... well, I suppose all cancer is pretty weird. But this kind is weirder than most.
I found images, http://hsc.virginia.edu/med-ed/path/gyn/ovary3.html at that site. search the page for the word tooth, if you dare.
This is totally fascinating to me... A tumor using t-cells to build some pretty advanced body elements.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sweetalyssm pointed my noggin in this direction when we got to talking about goiters and gout. you have to admire a girl that can be clinical and enjoy the ick factor, as well as the scientific aspects of a concept such as this.
When: Oct-1991
Where: N/A
What: 303 lbs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The largest tumor removed intact was a multicystic mass of the right ovary weighing 137.6 kg. (303 lb.). The operation was performed by Professor Katherine O'Hanlan of Stanford University Medical Center, California, USA.
The growth had a diameter of 1 m. (3 ft.) and was removed in its entirety in October, 1991, from the abdomen of an unnamed 34-year-old woman. The patient - who weighed 95 kg. (210 lb.) after the operation, and who has made a full recovery - left the operating theatre on one stretcher, with her cyst on another.
Side note - (The woman who had the tumor was agoraphobic and had been bed-ridden for the last two years. It was in her abdomen. When they did the pathology report they found out it was benign but had "hair and teeth" growing in it. )
More info - from my hero, Cecil of the straight dope -
A friend told me about a woman who had a tumor removed from her ovary (or something in that area), and the tumor had hair and teeth. She was young and I think a virgin, so this couldn't have been the beginnings of a baby. Have you heard of this happening, or is my friend pulling my leg?
All together now: Ewwwwww.
No, the tumor wasn't the beginnings of a baby. But yeah, it might have had hair and teeth. Dunno about you, but this ranks way up there on the list of things I could stand not to know.
The tumor we're talking about here is called a teratoma. At one time teratomas (which are usually benign) were thought to originate in some sort of embryonic or quasi-embryonic cell gone wrong. But most experts now consider them a type of germ-cell tumor--in this case a tumor involving an egg. Though the egg is unfertilized, tumor-driven cell division results in a lot of the same stuff you see in a developing fetus, including cartilage, bone, teeth, hair, brain tissue, and sometimes even bowel, skull, vertebrae, and eyes. It's all chaotically arranged and bears no resemblance to an actual embryo. Nonetheless, since larger teratomas can weigh several pounds ... well, I suppose all cancer is pretty weird. But this kind is weirder than most.
I found images, http://hsc.virginia.edu/med-ed/path/gyn/ovary3.html at that site. search the page for the word tooth, if you dare.
This is totally fascinating to me... A tumor using t-cells to build some pretty advanced body elements.
sweetalyssm pointed my noggin in this direction when we got to talking about goiters and gout. you have to admire a girl that can be clinical and enjoy the ick factor, as well as the scientific aspects of a concept such as this.
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no subject
Date: 2001-05-14 06:09 pm (UTC)and while you are at it, search for stuff on hydatiform moles. pretty weird. dontcha just love the human body?
Re:
Date: 2001-05-14 06:12 pm (UTC)neoplasms of all sorts are amazing! I'm canstantly amazed at the things this wacky machine is able to accomplish.
no subject
Date: 2001-05-14 06:30 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2001-05-14 06:40 pm (UTC)once they get the sequence right to make a solid embryo....
no subject
Date: 2001-05-14 08:01 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2001-05-14 08:20 pm (UTC)uhoh... wait a minute.. that'd make men obsolete!
oh well, I guess we can still mow the lawns.
no subject
Date: 2001-05-14 06:34 pm (UTC)I shan't sleep well tonight. At all.
heh.
Re:
Date: 2001-05-14 06:37 pm (UTC)sleep with your legs crossed, and hope whol hairy, shambling maws don't form and graw on your soft fleshy bits as you rest.
oh, wait, that's my nightmare after doing the research... eyes! teeth! hair... forming from non-fertilised material... it want to consume us 46 chromosome beings. run! run! doors can't stop them! they can't be bribed!
no subject
Date: 2001-05-14 06:40 pm (UTC)What're you smoking tonight, big guy? ;)
Re:
Date: 2001-05-14 06:44 pm (UTC)smoking nothing but some sweet sweet brain cells, trying to puzzle a way out of this Swiftian system of brutality and harshness I call a career.
But I'll be better once I get home, preferably with a bean burrito.
no subject
Date: 2001-05-14 06:46 pm (UTC)Yes, I believe after a good bean burrito, you'll be right as rain. Nothing like a good bean burrito.
Beans, beans, the magical fruit,
the more you eat, the more ya like 'em.
Re:
Date: 2001-05-14 06:51 pm (UTC)Beans, beans, great for your heart!
Hmm.... who knew smooshed legume is so lovely?
smart mayans or whoever!! Thank you toltec for chocolate and tortillas!! sorry about the pyramid thing, and the city of gold stuff.
no subject
Date: 2001-05-14 09:37 pm (UTC)The show dominated the small talk around the office for a while, that's for sure!
One thing you didn't mention was that the woman allowed the tumor to grow so enormous because she was agoraphobic...and doubly afraid of doctors.
Re:
Date: 2001-05-14 09:44 pm (UTC)Dagnabbit!
Date: 2001-05-14 09:49 pm (UTC)Mea culpa.
Re: Dagnabbit!
Date: 2001-05-14 09:59 pm (UTC)Oh Scotto....
Date: 2001-05-14 10:03 pm (UTC)Re: Oh Scotto....
Date: 2001-05-14 10:11 pm (UTC)I'll have to use that on my cara mia then!
no subject
Re:
Date: 2001-05-14 10:18 pm (UTC)