Seventeen-year-old Nesli Meir's nagging stomach ache proved to be more than a trivial health concern—it was due to a bizarre and unusual medical condition. After months of shooting pains in her lower abdomen, Nesli was rushed into emergency care in January during her vacation at Guatemala. A CT scan yielded a stunning diagnosis: a benign teratoma tumor, roughly the size of a tennis ball, developing on her right ovary. [1] Even more alarmingly, the mass had a fully developed tooth in it, and physicians at San Diego, California suspected that it could also have an eyeball. [2]
Doctors also found a second, smaller tumor in her reproductive system, further raising the stakes about her situation. Because of the size and location of the tumor, Nesli risked losing her right ovary when she was operated on. She said the pain was excruciating and admitted that she initially attempted to push it aside. But after being diagnosed, she took to social media to describe her ordeal, even jokingly christening her tumors "Terry" and "Tommy". [3]
What is a Teratoma Tumor?
A teratoma is a very uncommon germ cell tumor that arises from reproductive cells, including eggs and sperm. Teratomas are distinctive in that they have a combination of various kinds of tissue, including hair, muscle, bone, and even organ pieces.[4] In the most extreme instances, teratomas have been discovered with partially developed complicated body structures, including brain tissue, liver cells, or even limbs. [5]
Most teratomas are non-cancerous (benign), but a few of them may transform into cancer (malignant). The disorder occurs as a result of cellular differentiation abnormalities, where undifferentiated germ cells start to develop into different specialized tissues rather than developing into a normal reproductive organ. [6].
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Teratomas usually do not present themselves in the early stages, but as they develop, they may produce a range of symptoms based on their size and location. Some of the most frequent symptoms are:
Severe pelvic or abdominal pain
Swelling or lump in the involved area
Bleeding and discomfort
Constipation or pressure on adjacent organs
Leg weakness due to nerve compression
Slightly elevated levels of tumor markers like beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (BhCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) [7]
Nesli’s story went viral after she shared her journey on TikTok, attracting widespread attention. She used humor to cope with her diagnosis, even joking about her tumor potentially having an eyeball. However, her case highlights a serious issue: many young women dismiss persistent pain as minor discomfort, delaying diagnosis and treatment. [8]
Physicians stress that an early diagnosis is important in treating teratomas. Untreated large teratomas may lead to ovarian torsion and the loss of the ovary, or, although uncommon, develop into cancer. Early medical care can avoid such complications and yield a more favorable prognosis. [1]
References:
American Cancer Society. "Ovarian Tumors and the Importance of Early Diagnosis." Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer.html
New York Times. "Rare Tumor Discovered in Teen Containing Tooth and Possibly an Eyeball." Available at: https://www.nytimes.com
TikTok. "User @NesliMeir shares shocking medical diagnosis." Available at: https://www.tiktok.com/@NesliMeir
Mayo Clinic. "Germ Cell Tumors: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment." Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/germ-cell-tumors/symptoms-causes
Cleveland Clinic. "Teratomas: Understanding the Bizarre Tumors That Can Contain Body Parts." Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17980-teratoma
National Cancer Institute. "Germ Cell Tumors and Differentiation Errors." Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/germ-cell
Johns Hopkins Medicine. "Teratoma Symptoms and Diagnosis." Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/teratoma
The Guardian. "Teen’s Social Media Story Raises Awareness About Ovarian Health." Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Pragati Sakhuja/MSM)