LECTURE THREE
NEOPLASM
A neoplasm or tumor is a cellular growth that is no longer responding to
normal body controls. The cells continue to reproduce when there is no need
for them. This excessive growth deprives other cells of nutrients.
Many neoplasms are unable to function as normal tissue cells because they
consist of atypical (abnormal) or immature cells.
Nomenclature
Tumors are named according to a system. The root word, such as chondro, is
the cell of origin, in this case cartilage.
Depending on the type of tissue where a tumor is located, the suffix indicates
malignant tumors (carcinoma for epithelial tissue, sarcoma for connective
tissue). The suffix oma alone indicates a benign tumor, e.g., lipoma.
Tumor Nomenclature
Root Suffix Example
Fatty tissue: lip- Benign: - oma Lipoma: benign tumor of
fatty tissue
Gland tissue: aden- Malignant epithelial tissue: Adenocarcinoma:
- carcinoma malignant tumor of the
epithelial lining of a
gland
Fibrous tissue: Fibro- Malignant connective Fibrosarcoma:
tissue: - sarcoma malignant tumor of
fibrous tissue
However, a number of neoplastic disorders have acquired unique names that
are recognized in medical practice e.g. leukemia
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, Characteristics of benign and malignant tumors
Benign tumors usually
1. Consist of differentiated cells that reproduce at a higher than normal
rate.
2. The benign tumor is often encapsulated and expands but does not
spread.
3. It is usually freely moveable on palpation. Tissue damage results from
compression of adjacent structures such as blood vessels.
4. A benign tumor is not considered life threatening unless it is in an area
such as the brain where the pressure effects can become critical.
Malignant tumors are usually
1. Made up of undifferentiated, nonfunctional cells that do not appear
organized.
2. The cells tend to reproduce more rapidly than normal and often show
abnormal mitotic figures. These cells have lost cellular connections with
each other, and reproduction is not inhibited in the presence of other
similar cells.
3. Tumor cells infiltrate or spread into surrounding tissue and may easily
metastasize or break away to spread to other organs and tissues
2|Page
NEOPLASM
A neoplasm or tumor is a cellular growth that is no longer responding to
normal body controls. The cells continue to reproduce when there is no need
for them. This excessive growth deprives other cells of nutrients.
Many neoplasms are unable to function as normal tissue cells because they
consist of atypical (abnormal) or immature cells.
Nomenclature
Tumors are named according to a system. The root word, such as chondro, is
the cell of origin, in this case cartilage.
Depending on the type of tissue where a tumor is located, the suffix indicates
malignant tumors (carcinoma for epithelial tissue, sarcoma for connective
tissue). The suffix oma alone indicates a benign tumor, e.g., lipoma.
Tumor Nomenclature
Root Suffix Example
Fatty tissue: lip- Benign: - oma Lipoma: benign tumor of
fatty tissue
Gland tissue: aden- Malignant epithelial tissue: Adenocarcinoma:
- carcinoma malignant tumor of the
epithelial lining of a
gland
Fibrous tissue: Fibro- Malignant connective Fibrosarcoma:
tissue: - sarcoma malignant tumor of
fibrous tissue
However, a number of neoplastic disorders have acquired unique names that
are recognized in medical practice e.g. leukemia
1|Page
, Characteristics of benign and malignant tumors
Benign tumors usually
1. Consist of differentiated cells that reproduce at a higher than normal
rate.
2. The benign tumor is often encapsulated and expands but does not
spread.
3. It is usually freely moveable on palpation. Tissue damage results from
compression of adjacent structures such as blood vessels.
4. A benign tumor is not considered life threatening unless it is in an area
such as the brain where the pressure effects can become critical.
Malignant tumors are usually
1. Made up of undifferentiated, nonfunctional cells that do not appear
organized.
2. The cells tend to reproduce more rapidly than normal and often show
abnormal mitotic figures. These cells have lost cellular connections with
each other, and reproduction is not inhibited in the presence of other
similar cells.
3. Tumor cells infiltrate or spread into surrounding tissue and may easily
metastasize or break away to spread to other organs and tissues
2|Page
