teratoma. [terâ²ÉtÅâ²mÉ] pl. teratomas, teratomata. a tumor composed of different kinds of tissue, none of which normally occurs together or at the site of the tumor. Teratomas are most common in the ovaries or testes.
The pink-colored film or ring frequently seen on showers, tubs, toilets and pet water bowls is typically caused by growth of the airborne bacteria Serratia marcesens. This harmless nuisance organism reacts with standing water and frequently forms during spring and summer months.
A less common cause of pink frothy sputum is plague, a severe infection caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria. It spreads via the bites of infected fleas found on rodents. Most people get the bubonic form of plague, which settles in the lymph nodes, and causes swellings called buboes.