PATHOLOGY OF NEOPLASIA

Neoplasia is new growth. The terms benign and malignant correlate to the course of the neoplasm. Benign neoplasms stay localized in one place; malignant neoplasms invade surrounding tissue and, in most cases, can metastasize to distant organs. To become neoplastic, a normal cell must develop mutations that allow it to no longer obey boundaries of adjacent cells, thus allowing for uncontrolled growth, and the neoplasm must be able to produce its own blood supply. If the neoplasm is malignant, the cells must also gain the ability to invade the basement membrane and surrounding tissue, enter the blood stream, and spread to and grow within distant organs

Nomenclature for general categories of neoplasms

• Adenoma: Benign neoplasm derived from glandular cells.
• Carcinoma: Malignant neoplasm derived from epithelial
• Sarcoma: Malignant neoplasm derived from mesenchymal cells (e.g., fat, muscle).
• Lymphoma: Malignant neoplasm derived from lymphocytes.
• Melanoma: Malignant neoplasm derived from melanocytes.
• Germ cell tumor: Malignant neoplasm derived from germ cells.

Prostatic adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is one of the major forms of carcinoma. In well and moderately differentiated forms, the glandular histology is readily apparent (as in this section). Hematoxylin and eosin, 400×.

Nomenclature for benign neoplasms

In general, the name of a benign neoplasm often ends with –oma.

• Examples: Adenoma (benign neoplasm of glandular epithelium), fibroadenoma (benign neoplasm of the breast), and leiomyoma (benign neoplasm of smooth muscle).
• Some exceptions: Hepatoma (malignant neoplasm of liver), melanoma (malignant neoplasm of melanocytes), mesothelioma (malignant neoplasm of mesothelial cells), and seminoma (malignant germ cell neoplasm of testis).

Nomenclature for malignant neoplasms

In general, the name of a malignant neoplasm often ends with –carcinoma or –sarcoma.
 

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Niloufer sobbrio
Associate Managing Editor